The 39th Singapore Bird Race 2023 will be held from 4-5 November and starts at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve. This event is also organised by the Nature Society of Singapore since 1984.

The main objective is to promote the appreciation, awareness and conservation of wild birds in Singapore and local biodiversity more broadly to the Singaporean public. The Singapore Bird Race is among Southeast Asia’s longest-running citizen science events.

Singapore Bird Race 2023

For this year’s bird race in Singapore, there are seven categories to take part in, depending on the level, experience and age. There is also a family category, as listed below. And there could be a particular segment for talks conducted at the Mapletree Auditorium after the race.

This birding event has been generously supported by the main sponsor, Mapletree Investments, since 2019; hence, the ending point of the race will be at Mapletree Business City, where lunch is provided for all participants.

Singapore Bird Race Categories:

• Marathon (3-4 members a team)
  Sat 4 November, 12.30 pm to Sun 5 November, 12.30 pm (24hrs)
• Sprint (3-4 members a team)
  Sun 5 November, 7.30 am to 12.30 pm (5hrs)
• Novice (3-4 members a team) 2 or fewer years of birdwatching experience
  Sun 5 November, 7.30 am to 12.30 pm (5hrs)
• Youth (3-4 members a team) (12 – 18 years)
  Sun 5 November, 7.30 am to 12.30 pm (5hrs)
• Family (2 to 4 family members per team, at least one parent and one child (12 years & below) )
  Sun 5 November, 7.30 am to 12.30 pm (5hrs)
• Photographer (2 members a team)
  Sun 5 November, 7.30 am to 12.00 pm (4.5hrs)
• Student (Primary School) (3-4 members a team)
  Sun 5 November, 8 am to 10 am (2hrs)

Singapore Bird Race Information

• Date: 4-5 November 2023 (Sat & Sun)
• Location Start point: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Visitor Centre
• Location End Point: Mapletree Business City
• Registration is now open and will close on 1 October 2023. Visit the Registration Link.
• More information: Singapore Bird Race Facebook

Participation Information – Price in Singapore Dollars

• Every participant is required to register. Please provide the applicable membership details when needed:
• Nature Society (Singapore) Member: $15/person
• Nature Photography Society, Singapore member: $15/person
• Non-members: $20/person
• Youth & Pri School Students(18 and below): Free – Registration is still required

Program on Sunday, 5 November 2023
• 0730 – Flag off at SBWR visitor centre
• 1230 – Submission of logsheets at Mapletree Business City / Lunch provided
• 1345 – Awards Ceremony
• 1500 – End

 

Update 9 November: The Singapore Bird Race 2023 results were published and are now being shared here in this article. For the record, there were a total of 360 participants in all categories, which is a huge number.

Conclusion

While this is the premier birding event in Singapore, there is also the Borneo Bird Festival 2023 taking place in late October and the Asian Bird Fair 2023 also taking place in mid-October in Sabah, Borneo.

If you plan to explore out of this region, you can also get more information on other bird watching events worldwide that have been included on our website. Some of them are in Taiwan, Japan and even in the USA.

The Singapore Bird Race 2023 is currently open to anyone, and if you are a foreigner, you can also participate. All you need to do is register, make your booking arrangements for transport, flights and accommodation and be there on race day.

Birdwatching Asia may be there, and if you do see us, please stop us and say hello. As the only birdwatching media in the region, we enjoy attending all kinds of birding races, festivals and events.