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Sir T. Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, described this species of tern in 1822, and many other animals during his career. See Raffles the naturalist. - Webpage of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore. T. S. Raffles, 1822. Second part of the descriptive catalogue of a zoological collection made in the island of Sumatra and its vicinity. Trans. Linn Soc. Lond., 14. [p. 329] "Sterna sumatrana. A small species with short tail, and wings about the same length with it. The prevailing colour is white, tinged on the back, head and wing-coverts with light reddish-brown, and mixed with a few dark spots. A blackish crescent extends from eye [p.330] to eye round the back of the head. Wing-feathers lead-grey, the first one nearly black. Lower parts snow-white. Tail of the same as the back." "The Loyang Rock or Squance Rock has been the traditional nesting site for the Black-naped Tern for a few decades now... The site is the only known continuous nesting site for this species in Singapore.The Black-naped Terns start arriving to the waters around the rock in March and nest between April to August." - Subaraj Rajathurai. |
Black-naped
Tern, Sterna sumatrana Raffles, 1822 Background From:
Joseph Lai Hi Siva, can you...contribute
to the knowledge of the Tern's nesting rock off the coast of
Fairy Point. Get public educated. Heard from people that the
nest are being raid by poachers for their eggs. If URA's coastal
boardwalk is not on the rock, but at less 20m or so from the
rock, the tern's habitat can be a real treat for
visitors in future - a great item on the boardwalk's
itinerary of things to see. ...See
attached map by URA.... Ok.. enough of
birds... back to plants : ) joe Notes
on the Black-naped Tern, from Taiwan's Ecological
Conservation Source: URA (to be
updated). The
bird on the dollar note. The
bird on stamps and badges. Singapore featured
the Balck-naped Tern on
our dollar note,
issued 6th August 1976. From:
Morten Strange, in reference to the dollar note pictured
above Dear Siva,
This drawing must
have been made from Loke Wan Tho's photograph, pose and
angle is just like the picture published in his
autobiography, A Company of Birds (London, 1957).
I visited the rock
with Lim Kim Keang some 10 years back, I don't have a
digital scan from that day but I have used these pictures
probably some 40-odd times, you are welcome to scan from any
of my books. In the one I did with Allen J. on Sun Tree in
1993 we also show a picture of the nest. My classic shot
looks something like this: All the
best, Morten Black-naped
tern on international stamps On a school
badge - "The Black-Naped tern, poised for flight,
represents the Braddell-Westlake
pupil, determined to take on challenges to achieve his
purpose in life." Listen
to what it sounds like
(Mangoverde.com) Loke Wan
Tho Wan Tho Avenue in
Sennett Estate is named after the "King of Movies", Loke Wan
Tho. His personal photographic works on birds can be found
at Jurong Bird Park where a memorial library has been
constructed in his honour. - Shirley
Tan-Oehler, 2002. Three Kings. Highway Magazine,
May 2002. The Selegie
Arts Centre
at Selegie Road was allocated to The
Photographic Society of Singapore
(PSS) in
1995. The gallery on the 3rd storey was named Loke Wan Tho
Gallery in memory of one of the Society's most distinguished
member, Datok Loke Wan Tho. Tongue in
Cheek Loyang
- "a marshy land known for it's art and cuisine", in the
land of Pheona. Notes
on their breeding and rrarity to us in
Singapore. Photos
by Chua Ee Kiam From:
Subaraj Rajathurai Dear Siva,
The Loyang Rock or
Squance Rock has been the traditional nesting site for the
Black-naped Tern for a few decades now and a photo was taken
there way back by Dato Loke Wan Toh himself. The site is the
only known continuous nesting site for this species in
Singapore. There have been a few nesting records from a few
rocks around Tekong and Ubin but these are merely temporary
and often disturbed locations. The Black-naped Terns
start arriving to the waters around the rock in March and
nest between April to August. From September to March they
spend their time offshore, mainly in the South China Sea.
The colony has regularly been disturbed by fishermen
poaching eggs all these years. Nevertheless, the birds keep
returning to nest here year after year. A good observation
point from land is the government house at Fairy Point Hill.
The importance of
conserving this rock has been brought to the attention of
the government before, especially with regards to any
possible development that may be proposed for that part of
the coast. As Joe has pointed out, if properly planned with
enough distance between the nesting rock and boardwalk this
site can add to the attractiveness of the coastal walkway,
along with any shore habitats that exist. The terns have just
left and will not return until March nest year. It will be
therefore difficult to show the true value of the site
first-hand. Morten Strange has actually photographed the
nesting birds and one option may be to obtain a couple of
his photos to demonstrate the nesting colony. If you need any
further input, let me know. I am glad that the natural
importance of Changi is being carefully considered prior to
development. Thanks and take care! Regards, Subaraj Rajathurai
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002
For a nice clear photo, see Banknotes.com
Sent: 18th August 2002.
Photo by Morten Strange, c.1992.
(used with permission).
Photo by Datok Loke Wan Tho, c.1950's.
Photograph from a
picture on the wall of the Seminar Room at
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre taken by Benjamin
Lee.
15
cents stamp, issued in Singapore,
9th
November
1966
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002
Back to Changi, A heritage.