Vol
1 No 2
Sep 94
A park for all: objectives of
the park and
about its construction
Homes of
their Own:
the atlas moth
and white-
breasted
waterhen
Research
at the Park:
bird banding,
bird census,
feeding ecology studies
Update on
the study of insectivorous
bats at the Park
Sponsorship towards Nature Conservation
and Education
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Homes
of Their Own
at Sungei Buloh
Apart from fish, shellfish and crustaceans which breed in the waters
in and around the Park, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, moths
and resident birds also breed among the vegetation here.
The
Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) lays its eggs on the
leaves of the Sea Poison Tree (Barringtonia asiatica).
They hatch into lime green caterpillars which are about 8cm long
and these feed on the leaves of the tree. From the pupal stage they
turn into attractively patterned adults.
The caterpillars also feed on the leaves of rambutan, guava and
citrus. As such, they can be considered a pest. However, they are
naturally preyed upon by other insects and birds and form part of
the food chain.
Another article about the Atlas Moth
(Vol 6 No 1 Apr 99)
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Lime
green caterpillar
Silky pupa
Handsome adult |
Three eggs of the
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) were
rescued after being found abandoned. The eggs were about to hatch and cracks
were apparent on the shells. They were artificially incubated and soon hatched
into little black chicks with "large feet". The chicks were hand-fed
until they could eat on their own. When they were about 3 months old, they
were banded and then released into the wild.
White-breasted
Waterhen |
Initially,
they returned daily to seek food, but with time, they made only occasional
appearances. If you visit the Park and spot a White-breasted Waterhen
with a bright blue band on its leg, you'll have seen one of our very
own Park residents—born and bred here! |
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