Written by Kaeden Sim

Ever been jolted awake at 5am by the relentless uwu uwu sound? That’s the Asian Koel, and not a government drone secretly acting as an alarm clock to ensure productivity, it is actually taking advantage of the quiet dawn to advertise itself as a single ready to mingle.

On 18 April 2026 we conducted our first Soundscape Walk at Gardens by the Bay. A slightly different approach from our usual walks, focusing more on what the birds are saying instead of how they look. With ears wide open, we heard a myriad of bird vocalisations: from the melodious songs of Oriental Magpie-Robins, the type-writer-like flight call of the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker to the harsh laughs of the Collared Kingfisher.

We then ended the event off with a talk breaking down the fascinating world of bird vocalisations covering the functionality of songs and calls and their differences. Through this talk you can also learn how birding by ear works, how to hone your sound identification skills, and why recording bird calls contributes meaningfully to conservation and research!

This talk is a good introduction or refresher for newbie birders and seasoned listers alike into the wonderful world of soundscape!