NParks Garden Bird Watch
Ever wondered what the identity of that bird was? Are you interested in learning more about the garden birds of Singapore? Join us for Garden Bird Watch November 2024 as part of the NParks Community in Nature Biodiversity Watch series to help us gather valuable information about our birds.
Registration for Garden Bird Watch November 2024 is open from now to 13 October. Click here to register!
What is Garden Bird Watch?
The Garden Bird Watch is a citizen science initiative led by NParks to get Singaporeans and residents involved in collecting valuable information about birds in our parks, gardens and nature reserves. With the data collected from the various parks around Singapore, we can start piecing together information about where our birds are found and in what numbers! This information will contribute towards better park management and conservation measures.
Garden Bird Watch runs for 9 days in April and November, with training sessions scheduled beforehand in March and October.
How can I participate?
Anyone aged 12 and above can sign up and volunteer with us.
If you are a new volunteer, you will have to complete an online self-guided training session (consisting of a video and a quiz), as well as attend a practical training session at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This will allow you to familiarise yourself with basic birdwatching and survey techniques, so that you can carry out the survey independently.
If you are a returning volunteer, you need not join the training sessions, but you may opt to attend as a refresher if there are slots available.
You will be assigned a survey site closer to the date of the survey.
What happens after I have signed up?
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We will email you the details about the training (for new volunteers), or to confirm your sign up (for returning volunteers).
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For new volunteers, complete the online self-guided training session and attend the practical training session at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The online self-guided training session is about 2 hours long and the practical training session is about 1 hour long. Both sessions cover basic birdwatching and survey techniques. You will also learn how to identify 34 common birds in Singapore.
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One week before the Garden Bird Watch, we will send you information about your designated site and the points for your survey.
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Head down to your site on any morning (from 7.00am to 9.00am) during the Garden Bird Watch week and do your point counts at the designated points.
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Send the recorded information to us via the SGBioAtlas app, an online submission form (which will be shared at a later date), or email!
If you have any questions, please email us at CIN@NParks.gov.sg with "[GBW N2024]" in the email subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I don’t have any bird-watching experience. Can I still participate?
Yes! We will provide training for new volunteers through an online self-guided training session (consisting of a video and a quiz) and a practical training session. These sessions are targeted at people who are totally new to our native birds. They cover basic birdwatching and survey techniques, as well as identification of 34 common birds in Singapore. This will enable you to carry out the surveys independently.
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Is it compulsory for me to attend the training sessions?
You will be required to attend the training sessions if you are a new volunteer to Garden Bird Watch. The training sessions will teach you how to carry out the point counts and give relevant instructions for Garden Bird Watch. It is not compulsory for returning volunteers to attend the training sessions, but you may wish to do so as a refresher if there are slots available.
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When are the training sessions held?
The online self-guided training session can be done in your own time before the practical training session, and will take up around 2 hours. The practical training session will be held a month before the Garden Bird Watch week, and will take up around 1 hour on a weekend morning. For Garden Bird Watch November 2024, the practical session will take place on 19 and 20 October.
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Where are the training sessions held?
The practical training session will be held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where you will be able to try out techniques taught in the online self-guided training session with the help of a volunteer guide.
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When is Garden Bird Watch held?
Garden Bird Watch is a biannual citizen science survey that is held in April and November.
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What should I expect?
As a Garden Bird Watch volunteer, you will learn to identify 30 common native bird species, 4 migratory bird species, and learn basic birdwatching and survey techniques so that you can conduct the survey independently. Many of our return volunteers say that it is a lot of fun and easier than expected!
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Do I need any special equipment?
The survey was designed to accommodate surveyors without any binoculars or cameras, though having additional equipment is definitely helpful. If not, all you need is a datasheet and a pen, or a smartphone with the SGBioAtlas app!
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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 34 common species are:
| Common Myna |
Large-billed Crow |
Yellow-vented Bulbul |
| Javan Myna |
Asian Koel |
White-breasted Waterhen |
| Asian Glossy Starling |
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker |
Common Iora |
| Oriental White-eye |
Collared Kingfisher |
Red Junglefowl |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow |
White-throated Kingfisher |
Common Tailorbird |
| Rock Pigeon |
Olive-backed Sunbird |
Magpie Robin |
| Spotted Dove |
Brown-throated Sunbird |
Blue-tailed Bee-eater |
| Zebra Dove |
Black-naped Oriole |
Blue-throated Bee-eater |
| Pink-necked Green Pigeon |
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker |
Oriental Pied Hornbill |
| House Crow |
Common Flameback |
Scaly-breasted Munia |
| *Amur Paradise Flycatcher |
*Brown Shrike |
*Tiger Shrike |
| *Daurian Starling |
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Even if you can identify these species easily, you should join the training session if you are unfamiliar with the point count technique. Expert birdwatchers who are familiar with the survey techniques and are confident of conducting the counts independently with minimal instructions can opt out of the training. 4 additional species (indicated by *) will be introduced during the Garden Bird Watch in November (migratory season).
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I’m an advanced birdwatcher, how can I contribute?
If you are familiar with the survey techniques and are confident of conducting the counts independently with minimal instructions, you can opt out of the training sessions or help as a volunteer guide by contacting us at CIN@NParks.gov.sg. When you submit your results, you can also indicate bird species that you have surveyed, but are not in the list of 34 bird species, under “Other species sighted”.
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Will this Garden Bird Watch be very time consuming?
The training sessions will take approximately 2 hours for the online self-guided session and 1 hour for the practical session. The Garden Bird Watch survey itself will only take one morning (from 7.00am to 9.00am) during the week of the Garden Bird Watch. If you volunteer to do counts at more than one site, you may be required to spend more than one morning within the stipulated week.
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I don’t want to travel so far from my home, can you give me a closer location?
When you register for Garden Bird Watch, you may indicate your preferred location for the survey through the form, and we will then assign you to a site within your preferred location. Alternatively, if you would like to survey a site that is further from your home, please either indicate the location that you would prefer to conduct the survey at, or no preference.
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My young children are interested to join, how should I do so?
Children aged 12 years and below may join the surveys as long as they are accompanied by their parents or guardian.
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How will the data I collect help in NParks’ park management and conservation efforts?
The data on the bird species and their distribution collected during the Garden Bird Watch will help establish a baseline from which we can monitor the patterns in bird populations in Singapore. With the Garden Bird Watch held biannually, we can track changes over time and develop management strategies or even enhance these populations.
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I would like to arrange a private session for my group or school, how should I do so?
You may join our public training sessions and conduct the surveys together. Please contact us at CIN@NParks.gov.sg for large group registration.