PublishedJan 8, 2017, 8:27 pm SGT
UpdatedJan 8, 2017, 9:34 pm
Samantha Boh
The travel times, stopovers and breeding patterns of Singapore's avian tourists are being placed under scrutiny here, as the National Parks Board launches a two-year satellite tracking project of migratory birds which travel to Singapore during the winter months.
The data will play a critical role in the survival of various species which use the Republic as a stopover point to feed up and rest before continuing their arduous journey as far north as the arctic circle.
"Before we started using tracking technology, we did not know where the birds go and could not collaborate with other countries on conservation efforts," explained Mr David Li, senior conservation officer at NParks.
"With these studies we know which countries they go to for major stopovers for instance, and sharing such information with those countries will help in setting up bird conservation projects there," he added, speaking on the sidelines of the first Arctic migratory birds workshop held in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Sunday (Jan 8).
The shorebirds being tracked include Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Common Greenshanks and Grey Plovers. With the new satellite trackers, researchers will be able to tell exactly where they are in real time, without the need to capture them again to find out.
The devices weigh either 5g or 9.5g and are solar-powered. The study is likely to start in March.
Continued
UpdatedJan 8, 2017, 9:34 pm
Samantha Boh
The travel times, stopovers and breeding patterns of Singapore's avian tourists are being placed under scrutiny here, as the National Parks Board launches a two-year satellite tracking project of migratory birds which travel to Singapore during the winter months.
The data will play a critical role in the survival of various species which use the Republic as a stopover point to feed up and rest before continuing their arduous journey as far north as the arctic circle.
"Before we started using tracking technology, we did not know where the birds go and could not collaborate with other countries on conservation efforts," explained Mr David Li, senior conservation officer at NParks.
"With these studies we know which countries they go to for major stopovers for instance, and sharing such information with those countries will help in setting up bird conservation projects there," he added, speaking on the sidelines of the first Arctic migratory birds workshop held in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Sunday (Jan 8).
The shorebirds being tracked include Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Common Greenshanks and Grey Plovers. With the new satellite trackers, researchers will be able to tell exactly where they are in real time, without the need to capture them again to find out.
The devices weigh either 5g or 9.5g and are solar-powered. The study is likely to start in March.
Continued
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