Do you enjoy bird watching? Would you like to learn about our herons, egrets, bitterns and contribute to a citizen science study? Join us for the Heron Watch, as part of the NParks Community in Nature Biodiversity Watch series, to help us to learn more about these charismatic birds!
Heron Watch will take place between 25 Jan (Saturday) to 2 Feb (Sunday) 2025.
Sign up now at https://go.gov.sg/hwjan2025. Registration closes on 8 Jan 2025.
(Our volunteer registration now takes place on Volunteer.gov.sg. Please view this step-by step guide if you require further guidance.)
Heron Watch Jan 2025 will be open to all volunteers! Do note that new volunteers to Heron Watch will need to watch the online theory training video (self-guided) AND attend one of the following practical training sessions from the available dates below.
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What is the Heron Watch all about?
Heron Watch is a citizen science initiative by NParks to get Singaporeans involved in collecting valuable information about the herons, egrets and bitterns across Singapore.
With the data collected from many survey transects across various areas in Singapore, we can start piecing together information about where these birds are found and in what numbers! This information will contribute towards better park management and conservation measures.
Results from January 2021 Heron Watch
Results from past Heron Watch surveys
How can I participate?
Anyone aged 12 and above can sign up and volunteer with us.
A training session on bird identification and survey techniques will be organised for beginners. You will be assigned a survey site closer to the date of the survey.
What happens after I have signed up?
- We will email you the details to confirm your sign up.
- You may view theory training video that will be sent to you after your registration is confirmed. The theory training video is about 2 hours long. The video covers basic survey and bird-watching techniques and you will also learn how to identify the 19 species for Heron Watch.
- Few days before the Heron Watch, we will send you information about your designated site and transect locations for your survey.
- Head down to your site on any morning (from 7am to 10am) or afternoon (from 3pm to 6pm) during the survey period and conduct the surveys at your designated transects.
- Send the results of your survey to us through SGBioAtlas app.
If you have any questions, please email us at CIN@NParks.gov.sg with “[Heron Watch]" in the email subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I don’t have any bird-watching experience. Can I still participate?
Yes! You may still participate by signing up for the mandatory training sessions. The training sessions are targeted at people who are totally new to our native birds. These sessions are on a registration basis, and details will be shared with registered volunteers.
2. Do I need any special equipment?
The survey was designed to accommodate surveyors without any binoculars. All you need is a datasheet and a pen, or a smart-phone with the SGBioAtlas app.
3. Is it compulsory for me to attend the training workshops?
You will be required to attend the training session if you are a beginner volunteer or entirely new to Heron Watch. The training sessions will also teach you how to do a transect survey and give relevant instructions for Heron Watch.
It is not compulsory for returning volunteers to attend the training. However, you may wish to attend the training workshop as a refresher.
4. What are the common species that you will be covering in the training? Would I still need to attend the training if I can identify them?
The 19 species are:
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Herons
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Egrets
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Bitterns
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Grey Heron
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Pacific Reef Heron
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Yellow Bittern
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Black-crowned Night Heron
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Eastern Cattle Egret
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Cinnamon Bittern
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Purple Heron
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Great Egret
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Von Schrenck's Bittern
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Great-billed Heron
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Medium Egret
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Black Bittern
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Striated Heron
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Little Egret
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Chinese Pond Heron
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Chinese Egret
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Javan Pond Heron
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Indian Pond Heron
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Malayan Night Heron
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Even if you can identify these species easily, do join us if you are unfamiliar with the survey technique. Expert bird-watchers who are familiar with the techniques and are confident of conducting the counts independently with minimal instructions can opt out of the training.
5. When and where are training sessions?
A theory training video will be provided for self-learning for volunteers upon confirmed registration.
For Heron Watch January 2025, the on-site practical training will take place at Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park at the following time slots
- 11 January 2025, Saturday - 7.30 - 8.30am
- 11 January 2025, Saturday - 9.00 - 10.00am
- 12 January 2025, Sunday - 7.30 - 8.30am
- 12 January 2025, Sunday - 9.00 - 10.00am
Each on-site practical training will take an hour long. If you are a new volunteer, you will only need to sign up for 1 session.
6. Will this Heron Watch be very time consuming?
The training sessions will take approximately two hours for the theory component and one hour for the practical component/ The Heron Watch itself will only take one morning (from 7am to 10am) or afternoon (from 3pm to 6pm) during the survey period. If you volunteer to survey at more than one site, you may be required to conduct more than one survey within the stipulated week.
7. How will the data I collect help in NParks' park management and conservation efforts?
The data on the heron, egrets and bittern species and their distribution collected during the Heron Watch will help establish a baseline from which we can monitor the patterns in these bird populations in Singapore. With the counts held bi-annually, we can track changes over time and develop management strategies to sustain or even enhance these populations.
8. Can my school/company/community group participate in this event together?
Please contact us at CIN@nparks.gov.sg for more information.