The Punggol Park (above), created more than 20 years ago, is an oasis of wildlife amidst clusters of Housing Development high-rise apartments LINK. However, one needs to spend some time seeking out these elusive wildlife, especially the birds. The was exactly what Teo Siyang did recently, coming out with a series of images showing the relationship between birds and plants in this oasis of nature LINK.
1. The flowers of the Tea Tree (Melaleuca cajuputi) attract nectar feeders – bees, butterflies, Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis; top left), Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis; top right) and Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus; bottom).
2. The Coral Tree (Erythrina sp.; left) and the Clitoria Tree (Clitoria fairchildiana, right) are two small trees that flower perpetually, therefore providing a good nectar source for the Olive-backed Sunbirds.
3. The most common mistletoe, the Malayan Mistletoe (Dendrophthoe pentandra) is frequently visited by the Brown-throated Sunbird when it flowers.
4. The Salam Tree (Syzygium polyanthum), flowers and fruits profusely several times a year. Its cherry red fruits attract frugivores like the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier; top), Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea; bottom), and Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) in the park.
5. The Yellow-vented Bulbul also feeds on many other plant materials here; like the fruits of the Sea Gutta (Planchonella obovata), and even the leaves of the Rain Tree (Albizia saman)!
6. The Pied Triller (Lalage nigra; top) and Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia; bottom) are two birds which often hang around the canopy of trees. They hop from twig to twig in search of caterpillars. The two pictures were taken from the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula), thus indicating that the caterpillars could be the larvae of the Lemon Emigrant butterfly which feed on its leaves and are very common in the park.
Teo Siyang
Singapore
July 2012
