Tufted ducks and geese identities
(Young punkster; for mr budak) Usually most Tufteds have a long dense 'dropping crest', but this one... well at least he's not bald, he's got four tufts. Quite the comical look.
It was only after looking through my fieldguide that I realised I had seen another two more species of geese at Hyde Park today. They all look so alike! "
In theory, separating the five species of 'grey' Anser geese... present little problem, practice is different". Indeed. Especially if they are in mixed flocks. Or, worse still, like some common species of ducks, they are hybrids. Aside from the grey geese I'm certain I've spotted a Snow Goose (very likely an escapee) among a flock of Greylags, and also a pair of Barnacle Goose - their main migratory movements take place about now. There's still a species of gull I've yet to ID.
Hyde Park on a Sunday
Betta Fry: Day 2
I took these pictures through a magnifying glass... they are so, so, tiny. So fragile and frail. My ruler can't take an accurate measurement of their length but I estimate them to be about 1.7mm from mouth to tail.
Some have already developed eyes, and a few, fins. Most have already consumed the bulk of their yolk sacs, so I have taken the liberty of adding a drop of
Liquifry No.1, which stimulates the development of infusoria (micro-organisms). Meanwhile I have also checked on the status of my brine shrimp hatchery... all good... I see minute little orange specks swimming about - the newly-hatched of those two drops of shelless brine shrimp eggs. If my timing is right, the fish fry should have fresh baby brine shrimp once they are big enough.
My only concern now is keeping them alive... and for that I'm hovering around the tank on a 24-hour basis. Making sure the water temperature is ok, that the conditions are ok, that they haven't started dying in batches, that there are no signs of algal, bacterial, or fungal infections... ...
lots of worries. I've taken Huxley out; his job is done, and if I leave him with the fry for another day he might just eat his babies. Some of the fry have begun to swim horizontally, and the rest are just propelling themselves up and down. Most of the time they look dead, lying on their sides on the tank floor.
The most tedious period of fry-rearing has yet to come; the next few days are crucial. Even for experienced breeders, the survival success rates can still be extremely low. There are just too many reasons why they won't be able to make it. I still need to get a suitable sponge filter, and other emergency fishy stuff.
They've hatched!
They're a few hours early; it's most likely 'cos of the temperature of the water. With my laptop ('heat source') running since the eggs were laid, the water temperature is optimal - fast development. Poor Huxley's having a hard time keeping up with the rate of falling fry... he's forever picking up the fry/eggs and placing them back up into the bubbles. He's covered the entire water surface with bubbles now... the whole surface area's become his nest.
Fatherly duties
Huxley under his nest. I placed a piece of floating styrofoam into the tank and through the days he blew a bubble nest. It was under this nest which the mating dance and ritual took place... and when the eggs were laid, he carried them in his mouth and placed them carefully into the bubbles.
Nest inspection. 'Bad eggs' are removed (eaten) to prevent decay and contamination. Fallen eggs are continually being retrieved and placed back into the nest.
So much for the tedious labour... as soon as he swims away, his flowing fins touch the bubbles and eggs are displaced again. >_<
Breeding Bettas
I'm not gonna forgive Kamil for this...
He lifted the barrier between the two fighting fish while I was having a lab session.
I received these messages:
"
They are having baby!"
"
This is so cool you are missing out so much! The eggs just keeps coming out. Oh man you would wish to have missed your lecture for this!!!"
I was still in the conditioning stage of their breeding... was planning to get some live food from AD tomorrow arvo and fatten them up for a few days before letting them do their stuff. To produce the best results, so that the female doesn't become too exhausted, etc etc.
Anyway just a little background story There are four females, and one male. His name is Huxley, and the females... one's called Fitch, 'cos she's a fish and she's b*tchy. Another's called Susan, for no good reason, and the rest are Preston and Lesbian (shrugs, ask Kamil, he named them). Now Huxley originally liked Fitch, but Fitch didn't return his love. Yet when Susan started showing interest in Huxley, Fitch would flare up and chase and fight Susan away. Huxley would fan out his fins and gills and display at Fitch and Lesbian, but none of them would pay him any attention. He'd start to chase and abuse them, so much so that Fitch's fins were torn. Lesbian was only interested in displaying at the other females, but never to Huxley. Preston... was always easily stressed and shows no interest whatsoever in anything. So we put Huxley and Susan together in the same tank, separated only by a transparent barrier to get them 'into the mood'. After the second night, Susan started flaring at Huxley, and vice versa. Huxley started building a bubble nest. Susan's ovipositors became visible. All good signs.
But I didn't expect it to progress this quickly. Sui who bred
Betta splendens before in Singapore recommended that I condition them and 'let them see each other' for one or two weeks prior to introducing them. That's what most websites saytoo.
Hmmm...
But well now that they have spawned, there's nothing I can do 'cept to prepare for the mass hatching of fish fry. 36 hours... thereabouts. Countdown begins. I hope to get some brine shrimp or some other small live food by then.
Launch of the Bird Ecology Study Group
Recently, Nature Society (Singapore) came to recognise the Bird Ecology Study Group (BESGroup) as an offical sub-group of NSS. This is mainly thanks to the efforts of Dr YC Wee and a few other prominent members of the nature conservation circle. It started as a
blog, and now it's evolved into something more, hopefully into something sustainable... something that can do more than discuss and actually contribute scientifically, amateurishly or otherwise, to ornithology.
From the 'website' (we hope to have a proper one up soon):
The objectives of BESGroup are as follows:
- To encourage the study of birds and their links with all aspects of the natural environment.
- To help fill in the information gaps, especially on the breeding behaviour of local birds.
- To encourage the dissemination of information.
- To encourage the publication of information collected through the internet, popular magazines and scientific journals.
I have been invited to contribute in an advisory capacity... well when I joined I had hoped to learn more about local avifauna ecology from the experts, as a student of the field. I suppose it goes both ways - not everyone is an expert in all things, and with each our own observations, specialisations and experiences there is much to learn from and share with one another.
Anyway, to all interested parties, scientists and hobbyists alike - feel free to add yourself to the
mailing list. As long as you can tell apart a sparrow from a pigeon and describe their behaviour, you're welcomed to join.
BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year
It's here again; over the weekend when I walked past the Natural History Museum, I saw people in suits and dresses, entering the torch-lit entrance of the Museum. There were cars and many important-looking guests. That was the official award ceremony for the 2005 winners... and the exhibition has now been launched.
I haven't made a visit to the gallery yet but I'm planning to do so in the next few days. The
gallery's online too, but nothing beats looking at the original high-quality prints in the face.
My new housemates are cycling fanatics. Four of them ride, and they've got in all seven bikes among them. Last Wednesday for the first ICMUN committee dinner, five of us rode up through Hyde Park to Edgeware Rd to Mawar. Hee. They're even keen on exploring the sights of London by bike, or perhaps bike up to Oxford. Mmm... thanks but no thanks.
Both fencing teams - Women's and Men's 1sts won, with the former's score 15-8 against Reading. The new incomers have skill... :D and this year we have a more... competent... captain.
The next night and following morning I was fixing Terry's laptop and then mine - due to a 'blackout' his system crashed and he couldn't even load into Windows. Well we got that sorted after a few hours into the morning (argh MS-DOS), but when I turned back to my laptop I discovered that 2.6GB of my hard drive space was lost through a system recovery software that he installed earlier. Upon installation, it creates a hidden partition, as a mirror image/backup of my local drive... and after uninstalling it I don't know where that partition is. Tech Support says it can't be accessed from Windows Explorer, so I tried other unconventional means but still couldn't find it. Sigh... so that means 2+ Grandpa Bears lost. :|
Failing to find other similarly-interested parties, Kamil and I went to
Fryent Country Park in Zone 4 for a "hike-stroll-walk-in-the-park". Fed the seagulls and the hordes of Canada Geese. Took actiony shots. Picked wild apples off an apple tree. While there we went into the aquaria at Wembley (where Xi bought her
mega-aquarium tank) and I decided to get some Siamese fighting fish (since I've maintained them before, to a great degree of success). The lady at the store told me that they get most of their fish from Thailand of Singapore. Heh. I also got two Peppered Corys - they ran out of Bronze - to keep Darwin and Wallace company. I'm gonna name them Mayr and Haldane, and those who recognise those names will know why. :P
At night the whole household went to watch Tim Burton's
Corpse Bride. Reminiscent of
Nightmare before Christmas, another Burton classic. Witty, symbolic, full of humour and although the ending might not have been what one was hoping for or expecting, it was all-in-all a great film.
Essay's in, so now I'm free to concentrate on what I really should be doing. I've got 5 practical reports to write up, and a critical review article. I wonder what I should write about - how behaviour affects population dynamics (of insects, birds, etc.) or host-parasite coexistence... or perhaps urban effects on native avifauna. The topic of population ecology is so wide, and I'm free to choose, so I'd better pick a good one. That should occupy me for the next two weeks.
I stayed in the whole weekend last week... reading up, watching anime, diddling with photos. Our generous neighbour who had been unknowingly supplying us with the wireless connection has suddenly become smart. Maybe we were overdoing the leeching; now we're cut off from the 'net. Our ISP said that the line's up, our net should be working, but it isn't. The tech-savvy people in the house traced the problem to our modem... it doesn't work, so we'll most prob need to get a new one. Meanwhile I gotta hang out in SAF and the library to get that critical dose of internet... can't survive without it. Emails just come plunging in.
ICMUN last night; training and preparatory session for the upcoming Oxford Int'l MUN. Our new committee officers are sooo whooping great... it's inspiring just to listen to them speak. Despite their accents.
The great thing about having a committee under one roof is that getting things done is a whiz. The downside is that working OT is extremely common - like working on the sponsorship letters together till 1am. But it's great fun, and I don't think there'll be anything like this again. Household-bonding? Heh.
On kitchen duty tonight... I hate cooking. I'd do the washing up, anytime, but I just don't have the patience and will to cook. :P
I sent in my LRPS assessment panel today... I'll know how it went after a month. Looking forward to the results...
I reckon my brain is like a mobile phone SIM card. Or the
k (carrying capacity) in population ecology. I can only remember
k number of people and names, then all else is forgotten and in fact the graph goes downhill. Urgh. I walk about college and see some faces I knew I’ve seen before, but I can’t put a name to their face. I know they’re freshers, and by right I should know them, but I don’t. All I can do is smile and say a little ‘hello’ and rush on to class or wherever I’m headed. Likewise for the other person. It’s like I’ve suddenly become all shy or too busy or something. Or maybe I just can’t be bothered… I dunno. It shouldn’t be. Even for ICMUN, I remember a person as “the girl who was France” or “the delegate for Russia” or the “guy who attended 11 conferences”. The same goes for Fencing – “that new epeeist who was trying for the men’s team”.
Right now my mind can only focus on one thing, and one thing alone.
The politics of nature conservation… *the* most important essay I’ve ever written in my life. I want this week to be over. I want to know for certain… I want this essay to be done.
Leeching from a neighbour's connection
I went to Lu, Lionel & Charl's place last Fri, for dinner a some anime and an episode of
Rome (a new BBC-HBO miniseries, highly recommended if you're into anything Roman), followed by a little crazy session with our Nintendos. The DS's wireless link is great... we each can just sit on a sofa and play against each other. If one saw the kind of conversations we had on Pictochat, I wouldn't blame him if he mistook us for primary school kids.
Sat morn - woke late - regained my much-needed sleep. Worked on essay.
Sat night - hee, well Wang-san's working at Odeon so we sneaked in to watch
Oliver Twist (it's an
accepted practice). They watched
Pride and Prejudice (Another remake; heard it wasn't that good. But of course, nothing beats
the one with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy).
Sun - worked on essay. Argh! So much reading up!
Monday - We celebrated Cherlyn's birthday during lunchtime. The usual bio affair - a cake, generously supplied by Xi &
Wonderful Patisserie, cards and song. Fencing session cancelled - annoying blokes at the Union have messed up our entire venue bookings for the term.
We had our first
ICMUN session at night. Held our first simulation - a UN Joint Security Council debate on nuclear weapons in Iran. It was quite interesting and fun to observe (I was spared the job of presiding... hee... one Speaker is enough). "The most distinguished, honorable Mr Secretary-General... ..." or phrases like "Is Iran not aware of France's..." if it weren't a formal affair we'd have cracked up laughing long ago. Turnout was good - 10 countries for the debate and half-a-roomful of spectators. Many candidates for the ensuing elections too - Conference and Campaigning Officers' positions filled. The enthusiasm and experience of the ICMUN'ers amazes me. If we manage to pull ICMUN through the first year, there'd be overqualified people to take over its running.
But all in all, it was a great relief. We're doing good - our new Campaigning Officer thought that by us saying that "we're a new society", we were one or two years in the running, and we're hardly two-months' old!
That wasn't me
That was Xi sneaking about my laptop when I wasn't around.
My buddy Xi
She's the best!
Like Xiao says, 71 Queen's Gate is like a family. It's true - I can feel it. Raj says my household is full of interesting people - that's true too. Well I'll learn the ways and pick up the subtle things... I'll grow to know everyone better, and vice versa. My room used to be a mysterious room, they said. The door was always closed. But now my door's usually held open by a string attached from the doorknob to the wardrobe behind... why live behind closed doors? That way it's almost like I'll forever be cut off from the 'rest of them'.
I have been comfortable enough to let out a few screeches or squawks from time to time, in random passing or greeting. No barks yet. That night at Marv's, we were barking the whole place down when we heard someone come through the door. It was such a laugh when their friend really thought there was a dog in the house and asked to see the puppy.
Although I'm happily settling down here, I still yearn for old company. I liked where I was.
Backtrack
Mon, 3 OctThe... 17th? parting - London-bound once moreWhen I logged onto MSN at Singapore time 7.30am in the morning, Xi was the only informed person online. Informed... as in knowing that I am supposed to be flying - Xi: "You cant be in the UK already". Well, she was right. At that moment, I was over the Caspian Sea. How cool was that! Typing away on the plane, while people around me were asleep or watching their inflight entertainment movies. Connexion by Boeing has finally launched the wireless service on selected Singapore Airlines flights, and to promote this new service they gave us a free trial. That didn't last long though; I left my laptop battery half-charged and it lasted barely half and hour.
Watched
Cinderella Man, then caught some sleep, but not much.
Goodbye Emperor's Gate, hello Queen's GateThe transition back to London and the move into my new household was not as much of a hassle as I had imagined it to be. Kamil and Wang Yan helped move my stuff up and to and from Marv's place where they were in storage (before my return, they had already moved half my boxes over). Very helpful of them... especially when it was only just past 7 in the morn. I managed to unpack everything and settle down within two hours... then headed out for lunch with Marv. Then we visited our old Emperor's Gate neighbours at their new lodgings at Earl's Court. Lovely! I absolutely luuurve their apartment! But it's so far. :| Well it's a compromise. Hung out at Marv's place after that - he's with the rest of the horde at Kenway. So many people around the area... one day I'll go visit everyone.
Still jetlagged... but I hadn't thought of sleeping then. Not until I reached home again and saw my bed. I worked a bit on my essay, then fell asleep. Right through dinner... I woke up only in time for a piece of choc (Xiao and Bernard just came back from Brussels) and an orange. Those two pieces of food would last me till afternoon the next day. We held our first full ICMUN meeting that night. Freshers' Fair the next day - lotsa things to prepare.
There's lots of dust around my window... the window pane's stuck and can't be moved, so it's always half-opened. I don't know why my nose was so horribly stuffed that night... it hasn't happened in a long time, but my nose was totally blocked... I was sniffing so bad that I couldn't fall asleep. Maybe it's 'cos of the new bed and new environment as well. Hmm, back to single room. It's so weird... all this sudden privacy after years of staying in a shared room (Linstead excluded). And it's even weirder living with 6 other people... 5 of them guys. It's such a big household lol. And also funny's the fact that most of them are Hong Kongers, so I can just rattle off in a mixture of Canto and English and everybody can understand. Cool. Gone is my Singlish... just when my Singlish vocab was improving. :P
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Tue, 4 OctFreshers' FairBoohoo. At fairs like these I like to be the one going from stall to stall, grabbing freebies and signing up for anything and everything for which may interest me. Today was not much fun... talked my mouth dry, and I lost one of my foils to the Club armoury - I can't find it, but I hope it'll resurface somehow. I got that one for free... not at Leon Paul's so I don't really mind if it's lost. More than 300 people had put their names down for Fencing, and for ICMUN it was better than expected too... about 150 signed up. Sigh, lots of follow-ups to do, and there's Fencing team tryouts tomorrow.
I had dinner at Marv's with Raj; before that, I was running on an apple+pecan Danish pastry for the entire day, plus a packet of Ribena. They were saying how their household lacks a girl... and kept saying I should have joined them. Hmm... nah... I'd love to, but Earl's Court is a bit to far from college imho. Well we chatted, random things, serious things. We sat for a long time and when I finally got up, there was this bad cramp in my legs... I couldn't move both my big toes - they were stiffened - and I was freaked out for a while. I couldn't rotate my ankles either. :| Was I too tired?
Went back for another ICMUN comm meeting. We're doing a information/registration session tomorrow so there're things to prepare.
If this continues... I've a feeling I'm gonna fall sick. Haven't recovered from my jetlag, and am still missing out on sleep.
And... lectures start tomorrow. My head is heavy.
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Wed, 5 OctLectures beginGood 'ole Dr Collins. I like her. We had her for Resource Management last year, and she became one of my favourite lecturers. Prof Ian Owens will be teaching in this course as well! It makes all the equations and formulas so much more bearable - in Population and Community Ecology, numbers are unfortunately unavoidable. The 'aphidman' Dr Simon Leather's taking on a few lectures, and Dr Tim Coulson (whom some of us reckon reminds us of Buzz Lightyear from
Toy Story) too. Lovely. All the cool people.
Rushed back home to prepare the slides for the ICMUN talk... while the rest went to get refreshments. We have 25 paid members... which is a good start. I'm surprised and glad that Doris joined... she said that she would like to engage in meaningful activities... which was heartening. Next up on the agenda's a mock conference for next Monday - on nuclear weapons in Iran, then it'll be full preparations for the Oxford and Cambridge conferences.
Dropped by the Union for a while to check on the tryouts for the new fencing teams. Turnout was good - there were many experienced fencers among the freshers. Impressive performances by the men (think we're gonna have two BUSA teams this year), but methinks the Women's 1sts is still lacking good fencers. I still haven't made up my mind if I wanna return to the team... I've got enough to handle as it is, and if I join the team I'll have to train three days each week. Maybe I could go into reserve.
Household-wise, I had my first dinner with them. It's scary, the amount of food they can eat. Almost a full cup of rice to each person, and there're five main dishes. Seven people... I gotta start getting used to the idea that I'm in a household of seven people. First trip to Sains tonight... the groceries we bought - it was enough to feed my old household for three weeks. 10 packs of Frankfurters sausages (and that's just because they weren't any more left on the shelf) (Bibian... imagine... 100 sausages!)
And grrr... London's too bloody cold for Autumn.
No time to write. Am flying off in another 5 hours.
The fact that I don't have any of my new housemates' mobiles and that there's no internet there and thus none of them have been checking their emails means that my knocking on the main door tomorrow morning might be an unexpected wake-up call.
Then I still have to travel to and fro to get all my stuff from Marv's place.
Things are a bit messy over the other side...
(Young punkster; for mr budak) Usually most Tufteds have a long dense 'dropping crest', but this one... well at least he's not bald, he's got four tufts. Quite the comical look. 
