Postcards from Seletar

Wide open spaces, old trees and a slow pace has created an environment for several species of flora and fauna to thrive. Seletar Airbase to date is largely a picture of peaceful co-existence. We are lucky to work with such abundance; the diversity is quite spectacular. The 8 images that made it into the book reflect a number of sentiments.

Casurina -these majestic trees are the most common ones that tower over low slung houses. Parakeets are often seen disappearing into holes they have burrowed into.

Red Dragonfly – a frequent sight especially near water. We like to think they help keep the insect population under control.

Spotted Wood Owl – our favourite sound at dusk, a loud and powerful coughing sound somewhat like the barking of a dog, except from high in the trees.

Brahmin kite – some of the most spectacular aerial acrobatics have been by these guys. Of all the birds, they will probably be most impacted by loss of tall trees, where they nest

Stork-billed kingfisher – hard to miss the cackling ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke calls, and the flash of bright blue as they fly by

Monitor lizard – their slumbrous pace often stops traffic as they cross the streets.

Changeable hawk eagles are normally brown with white underbellies and black streaks on throat and chocolate streaks on breast. Females are larger, and young birds are often whiter-headed and less patterned.

Spitting Cobra – not the most endearing species, but well respected, and should be acknowledged as part of the eco-system, Since construction work begun on a road through the former Seletar Airbase Golf Course, there are more snakes in the residential area.

Each image card is sandwiched between 5 sheets of notes pages, so not only is the book a work of art, it has space for you to express yourself too! All 8 images are repeated at the end of the book in perforated cards; we hope the tradition of postcards will continue to thrive despite MySpace, Facebook and co.

Thank you to Nature Society Singapore for its guidance. From a longer list of recommended species for inclusion, the creative team added personal bias to the selection

Own a copy, and be part of the community that keeps memories of Seletar alive.