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Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
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Meme's are ideas that spread - much like this cattle egret that has spread from the old world into the new world. On my recent around the world trip I encountered a wonderful meme in Singapore.
Singapore is a fabulous, fabulous, fabulous place for birding and bird photography. spiderhunters (aka Vivek Tiwari) introduced me to a fabulous guide - Subjaraj Rajathurai who grew up in Singapore and is responsible for leading the effort to save what remains of Singapore's natural habitat - an inspiring educator and guide - who is clearly loved and respected by Singaporeans (everyone addresses him as Sifu).
One of the efforts that Subaraj started was the Bird Ecology Study Group (see the blog at http://besgroup.talfrynature.com") - It champions the study and discovery of Singaporean birds - contributors have documented unusual bird behaviour that the scientists didn't predict or expect. For example, fruit-eaters with pipits in their mouth - adapting to the loss of fruit trees.
The blog has had a WONDERFUL side effect that I would dearly love to take place here. To document and observe the bird life required two groups to work together, birders AND bird photographers. Like California, in Singapore these two groups have had the usual mutual group dislike based on ignorance and misunderstanding. Needing to work together, to document their observations, they began to understand each others values. Focus changed from listing and closeup shots to ecology and habitat - resulting in both groups working together to save and protect wildlife.
Sifu - my hat's off to you.
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Focal length: 500 mm
fStop: 4
ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/1600
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Singapore, SG, Singapore - Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve
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Oct 30, 2008
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