Who let these birds out?

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

It seems like 'Operation No Release', an initiative led by the NParks and PUB, did not deter people from releasing animals before Vesak Day and on Vesak Day itself. 

Small Croc at SBWR

Dropped in at Sungei Buloh last Sunday morning during neap tide in the hope to catch sight of otters and to see if there were any illegal drift nets set near the river mouth of Sungei Buloh. Like this photo taken on one of my previous trips.

Instead of seeing poachers, this was what greeted me. Two huge barges with excavators on  them. Could it be there are plans to construct more floating fish pens? If that happens what will become of the otters? The fish pens stocked with captive fish will be tempting tempting for the otters. Will the fish farmers end up killing the otters?

Tattooed man, the poacher

Encountered a tattooed Malay man at the Jurong Lake District, nothing unusual but the man had a fishing rod and hung on his bicycle was a tarpaulin bag. He gets off his bicycle and starts to cast his fishing line into the lake while I was busy breaking down my camera.

Suddenly the tarpaulin bag begins to move and there was scratching sound. Left my bag and walked over to the bicycle to investigate knowing full well that there was an animal in the bag. Meanwhile, the tattooed man hauls another turtle from the lake with his fishing line. Tried to persuade him to release the turtle he caught and to release whatever was in his bag.

When life begins on bare ground

You may know that some bird species do not build nests. Example: some cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other species. Other birds like terns and nightjars nest on bare ground.