I'm a little embarrassed to admit that, only up to a year ago, I had no idea that Pasir Ris Park contained so many different wildlife, both local and migrants, from near and far. I have lived in Pasir Ris for over 10 years now, and I thought there were only wild boars, hornbills and snakes in the wild!!! How naive was I! Well, those were the only wildlife I had paid attention to.
Things change and I have evolved with the times. Nowadays, bird calls and chirps are music to my ears! I feel happy whenever I hear them early in the morning. So here I am sharing some of the knowledge of the wildlife in Pasir Ris Park.
Pasir Ris Park is my home base and now that the migratory birds have headed home, here are my top 5 favorite resident birds: Oriental Pied Hornbills, Smooth Coated Otters, Spotted Wood Owls, Common Flameback Woodpeckers, and Collared Kingfishers.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
I first came across the Oriental Pied Hornbills when I started jog to the park via Sungei Api Api, along the running track next to the HDB flats. There are select trees where the hornbills would rest and roost for the night.
Every day, between 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, I enjoyed watching them fly back to the trees, facing Sungei Api Api, next to Blocks 513, 504, and 516.
In the mornings, they would fly out around 7+am to Pasir Ris Park to hunt for their next meal which can comprise insects, fruits, small birds and small animals (e.g. a garden lizard).
If you were not aware, the Oriental Pied Hornbills are native to Singapore and have bred here in the 19th century. Due to the shortage of big tree with cavities for them to nest in, their numbers declined to a point of extinction. It was then that NParks, Widllife Reserve of Singapore and researchers collaborated and did more extensive research on them. Together, they designed nest boxes for these hornbills. When you next visit Jurong Bird Park, you can hear the story and see the nest boxes during their demonstrations. That's an interesting fact for you.
Smooth Coated Otter
Who wouldn't fall in love with those adorable faces? A glance at them would melt your heart. Well, unless you live in a landed property and have a pond filled with pricey Koi! If so, then be afraid, be very afraid. These otters are merciless during their hunt for fish. Flip over to my video section to watch them hunt in the canal.
The Pasir Ris Otter family has since expanded to a party of 7, with two new additions in March. The head of the family is a dominant male with a shorter tail. I'm not sure how it came about though. The local Pasir Ris residents have affectionately named him 'Bent Tail'. They are often spotted hunting along Sungei Tampines.
Spotted Wood Owl
This family of four rose to national fame on 28 April when the older owlet fell from the tree in the evening and after repeated tries, still couldn't get back up the tree. The Pasir Ris residents who witnessed the fall, were worried as any bird stuck on the ground can be prey to dogs, monitor lizards, and even wild boars.
The Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres) was called and the rescue mission, to place it back up high on the tree with its worried parents, took 3 hours.
On 1 May, 5 mins before I arrived at the spot, the younger owlet fell from the tree and was seen clinging to the tree before eventually falling onto the ground.
It tried several times to fly back up but couldn't and hobbled to the next tree.
It all ends well as this determined little fella managed to get to the low hanging fern, after using all its might flapping its wings and clawing its way up the tree trunk. We could all see how exhausted it was and after a short while, it actually closed its eyes to nap. Aww.....this fella melted the hearts of all that were present, and it was quite a large crowd that had formed by then.
Today, both juveniles have learnt to fly but still dependent on their parents to show them how to hunt for their prey. The entire family has relocated to another tree across Sungei Api Api. Owlets can stay with their parents up to several months so you still have a chance to see them.
Common Flameback Woodpecker
'Knock Knock Knock!' can often be heard in the Pasir Ris mangrove especially on a quiet morning.
I spotted the beautiful pair building a home together. They were merely 2 meters away from me and I was in for a treat. I managed to photograph and film them as well. Hop over to the video section to watch them hard at work.
Among all the woodpecker species found in Singapore, I find the Common Flameback Woodpeckers the prettiest especially the male with the red 'mohawk'. They are often found in pairs so if you see one, do keep a lookout for its mate close by.
Collared Kingfisher
The collared kingfisher is a common sight all across Pasir Ris Park. It is one of eight kingfisher species found in Singapore. They are beautiful in a rich blue and white color combination. They feed on insects, lizards, and or course, fish. There is a pair that lives in the area when you first enter the mangrove boardwalk from Carpark B.
If you spot a collared kingfisher with its underpart covered in mud, it is likely because it was on the ground in the mangrove searching for its meal, likely to be worms or crabs. Often thereafter, it will head to the water to clean up from the mess. It is a pretty sight seeing it dart into the water, fly back out and preen itself (see below) on a branch.
So there you go. Those are my Favorite Five in Pasir Ris Park for the moment. Come September, during the migratory bird season, I'm sure my favorites will change accordingly.