Cranes in Izumi and Spoonbills in Fukuoka, Kyushu

This winter 96-97 the following numbers of cranes have been observed in the traditional wintering place Izumi at Kyushu in Japan. 
Januari 11, 1997 official count by the warden Matano-san

Hooded crane		5747	 (world population 9.500)
White-naped crane	2201	 (world population 5.000)
Common crane		3 	 (world population 200.000)
Siberian crane		1	 (world population 3.000)
Hybrids Common x Hooded 3 	 (above estimates are from ICF)
I visited this area around Januari 30, and saw essentially the same numbers of cranes. I did not see any hybrids, the immature Hooded cranes show too much confusing variation for my inexperienced eyes. The Siberian crane was in the permanent company of 3 White-naped cranes. During the early morning flight one could see the Siberian crane first following White-naped cranes then leading them for a while. During the three days I was there, the four birds could be seen together always on the same spot. Matano-san told me that last year there was no Siberian crane, but there was one in the winter 94-95. According to the trip report of Alan Wilkinson that individual was accompanied by Hooded Cranes.

Some of the cranes are ringed: either by Japanese, Russian or Chinese ringers. Matano-san keeps a record of the birds he has ringed over the years: the "oldest" ringed White-naped crane I found was one he had banded on Feb 1, 91.

The now 74-year old Matano-san started feeding the cranes who visited his ricefields many years ago in the fifties, when only a handful of cranes visited the area. This was succesful: not only the number of birds increased over the years, but also Izumi city realized the touristic value of the enterprise. Now the whole polderland between the fields of Matano-san and the centre of Izumi seems to be protected area. Matano's house is the centre of all activity: using a small truck he feeds the cranes several bags of grain every day at dawn. On one of the days of my visit, people of JAL were feeding the cranes fish. The egrets liked that idea, but the cranes were not really feasting on the supposed delicatesse. The rice feeding takes place right in front of the house Matano-san and the adjacent watchtower built for the tourists. The fields there are muddy and dirty looking, and have more the aspects of an old fashioned zoo. The cranes however feed everywhere in the neighborhood, at more natural sites in more natural densities.

Other interesting species around were: Rednecked stint, Penduline tit, Pallas's reed bunting, Russet sparrow and the black and white Daurian Jackdaw. In total there were some 76 species around, which is a very high number for Japanese standards, I have learned. Finally near Fukuoka both Spoonbill and Blackfaced Spoonbill were present.

Spoonbills in Fukuoka, Kyushu

Februari 2, 1997

Together with Bob Taylor from Sumner, Washington DC. Zubaijigawa, Hakata, Kyushu is a well-known roosting place for the rare Black-faced spoonbill.
JAPAN: Black-faced Spoonbill News from Kyushu
In summer 1996 an apparently adult pair of Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor, took up residence in an egretry in Ishikawa Prefecture and even engaged in nest building. Also present for some days was a pair of Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes - which actually nested in the area 10 years ago, but lost the eggs due to disturbance from construction work. Unfortunately, however, the site is under threat from road and park development. Better news recently is that winter 1996-97 saw record numbers of up to 30 Black-faced Spoonbills wintering in Kyushu. Contributed by Nial Moores.
  1. Greater scaup Aythya marila [Suzu-gamo] Zubaijigawa, Hakata, Kyushu
  2. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia [Herasagi] Zubaijigawa, Hakata, Kyushu
  3. Black-faced spoonbill Platalea minor [Kurotsura-herasagi] Zubaijigawa, Hakata, Kyushu

Cranes in Izumi, Kyushu

Januari 30 - Februari 2, 1997

Partly together with Kunihisa Fujiwara-san from Sugaogaoka in Kanagawa-ken and Bob Taylor from Sumner, Washington DC.
  1. Little grebe Podiceps ruficollis [Kaitsuburi]
  2. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo [Kawa-u]
  3. Spot-billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha [Karu-gamo]
  4. Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos [Ma-gamo]
  5. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata [Hashibiro-gamo]
  6. Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca [Ko-gamo]
  7. Gadwall Anas strepera [Okayoshi-gamo]
  8. Northern Pintail Anas acuta [Onaga-gamo]
  9. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope [Hidori-gamo]
  10. Pochard Aythya ferina [Hoshi-hajiro]
  11. Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax [Goi-sagi]
  12. Green-backed heron Butorides striatus [Sasa-goi]
  13. Cattle egret Bubucus ibis [Ama-sagi]
  14. Little egret Egretta garzetta [Ko-sagi]
  15. Intermediate egret Egretta intermedia [Chuu-sagi]
  16. Great egret Egretta alba [Dai-sagi]
  17. Gray heron Ardea cinerea [Ao-sagi]
  18. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia [Herasagi]
  19. Common crane Grus grus [Kuro-zuru]
  20. Hooded crane Grus monacha [Nabe-zuru]
  21. Siberian white crane Grus leucogeranus [Sodeguro-zuru]
  22. White-naped crane Grus vipio [Mana-zuru]
  23. Coot Fulica atra [Ou-ban]
  24. Common Gallinule Gallinula chloropus [Ban]
  25. Rudy crake Porzana fusca [Hi-kunia] (Observed by Kunihisa Fujiwara on Februari 1, 1997)
  26. Long-billed ringed plover Charadrius placidus [Ikaru-chidori]
  27. (Northern) Lapwing Vanellus vanellus [Tageri]
  28. Rufous-necked stint Caladris ruficollis [Tounen]
  29. Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus [Kusa-shigi]
  30. Common sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos [Iso-shigi]
  31. Common snipe Gallinago gallinago [Ta-shigi]
  32. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola [Yama-shigi]
  33. Osprey Pandion haliaetus [Misago]
  34. Black kite Milvus migrans [Tobi]
  35. Common buzzard Buteo buteo [Nosuri]
  36. Northern harrier Circus cyaneus [Haiiro-chuuhi]
  37. Eastern Marsh harrier Circus aeruginous [Chuuhi]
  38. Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus [Haya-busa]
  39. Hobby Falco subbuteo [Chigo-busa]
  40. Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus [Chougenbou]
  41. Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus [Kiji]
  42. Rufous turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis [Kiji-bato]
  43. Rock pigeon Columbia livia [?]
  44. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis [Kawa-semi]
  45. Japanese pygmy woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki [Ko-gera]
  46. Skylark Alauda arvensis [Hibari]
  47. Gray wagtail Motacilla cinerea [Ki-sekirei]
  48. White wagtail Haku-sekirei [Motacilla alba]
  49. Japanese wagtail Motacilla grandis [Seguro-sekirei]
  50. Water pipit Anthus spinoletta [Tahibari]
  51. Brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis [Hiyodori]
  52. Bull-headed shrike Lanius bucephalus [Mozu]
  53. Daurian redstart Phoenicurus auroreus [Joobitaki]
  54. Blue rockthrush Monticola solitarius [Iso-hyodori]
  55. Pale thrush Turdus pallidus [Shirohara]
  56. Dusky thrush Turdus naumanni [Tsugumi]
  57. Bush warbler Cettia diphone [Uguisu]
  58. Fan-tailed warbler Cisticola juncidis [Sekka]
  59. Penduline tit Remiz pendulinus [Tsurisu-gara]
  60. Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonica [Mejiro]
  61. Siberian meadow bunting Emberiza cioides [Hoojiro]
  62. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica [Kashiradaka]
  63. Gray-headed Bunting Emberiza fucata [Hou-aka]
  64. Black-faced bunting Emberiza spodocephala [Aoji]
  65. Japanese reed bunting Emberiza yessoensis [Ko-jurin]
  66. Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus [Ou-jurin]
  67. Pallas's reed bunting Emberiza pallasi [Shiberia-jurin]
  68. Oriental greenfinch Carduelis sinica [Kawarahiwa]
  69. Siskin Carduelis spinus [Ma-hiwa]
  70. Russet sparrow Passer rutilans [Nyuunai-uzume]
  71. Tree sparrow Passer montanus [Suzume]
  72. Gray starling Sturnus cineraceus [Mukudori]
  73. Azure winged magpie Cyanopica cyana [Onaga]
  74. Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauricus [Kokumaru-garasu]
  75. Rook Corvus frugilegus [Miyama-garasu]
  76. Carrion crow Corvus corone [Hashiboso-garasu]
  77. Jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos [Hashibuto-garasu]
Back to previous page Last modified: Februari 5, 1997. Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp