What are migratory Birds Observed at Fujimae-higata Shorebird flyway 0 2000 4000 Km birds? The Fujimae-higata and its surrounding area serve as a stopover for vast numbers of migratory Migratory birds are defined as birds that migrate birds on the East Asia-Australia flyway. In fact, this is one of Japan’s largest stopovers. In the Breeding site between a breeding site and a wintering site in Alaska specific seasons each year. spring of 2000, 11,000 shorebirds were recorded as using the tidal flat. In recent years, Siberia Shorebirds represent a major segment of the migra- 172 bird species (including woodland birds) have been observed in the surrounding Russia tory bird population. They can be seen mainly on area, of which 41 species were shorebirds. tidal flats and along the coastline. The birds that stop over in Japan in spring and autumn spend their During the wintering season and the spring and autumn migrations, many shorebirds China summers breeding on the tundra of Siberia and use the tidal flat and surrounding areas for feeding and resting. The bird species Japan South Korea Alaska and pass the winter in Southeast Asia and observed include dunlins, red-necked stints, grey plovers, bar-tailed godwits, Fujimae-higata Oceania. In many cases, these shorebirds migrate Stopover in flocks across great distances at a single stretch. lesser sand plovers, kentish plovers, grey-headed lapwings, common greenshanks, As a result, they must rest at stopovers in order to and grey-tailed tattlers as well as rare species such as Far Eastern curlews, Asian Taiwan regain the significant amounts of fat they require as the energy for continuing their migration. Migratory dowitchers, Nordmann’s greenshanks, and black-faced spoonbills. In winter, a Philippines birds cannot survive without all these breeding sites, large number of ducks (such as tufted ducks and common pochards) fly from wintering sites, and stopovers. And because they Russia, the Far East and Alaska for wintering. The Fujimae-higata is also visited by, or fly across national borders, migratory birds require Papua New Guinea the highest levels of international commitment to home to, many herons (Ardeinae, including great egrets and little egrets); seagulls ensure their survival. (Laridae, including black-headed gulls and common terns); eagles and falcons Indonesia (Falconiformes); and raptors (including ospreys), which encompass rare Little tern Birds Inhabiting the Fujimae-higata species such as intermediate egrets, Saunders’s gulls, little terns, Australia Wintering site Eared grebe eastern marsh harriers, and peregrine falcons. Black-necked grebe Great crested grebe The downstream banks of the Shonaigawa and Shinkawa Rivers Streaked shearwater leading to the tidal flat are covered with reed beds, while the downstream New Zealand Great cormorant areas of the Nikkogawa River offer a tranquil freshwater environment. For this reason, Great bittern Yellow bittern these areas are inhabited by prairie birds (including great reed warblers) and freshwater The Fujimae-higata serves as a critical stopover for Black-crowned ducks (including northern pintails and Eurasian teals). A total of 31,000 waterbirds were the migratory birds that travel about 10,000 km night-heron Striated heron observed in March 2000. between their breeding sites in Siberia and wintering Cattle egret sites in Australia. Great egret Dunlin Intermediate egret This bird is characterized by its slightly downward-curving Little egret beak. Dunlins sometimes Gray heron form large flocks. They breed Fujimae-higata and surrounding areas: Black-faced spoonbill in northern Eurasia and North America and stop over or Greater white- A precious Wildlife Protection Area in an urban environment winter in Japan. fronted goose Tundra swan Overview of National Wildlife Protection Areas Common shelduck Mandarin duck ●A National Wildlife Protection Area is an area Mallard Spot-billed duck designated by the Minister of the Environment as Eurasian teal a critical area for wildlife protection from both a Green-winged teal national and international perspective. Baikal teal Falcated duck ●Hunting is prohibited in a refuge. An area Gadwall deemed of particular significance for the protection Eurasian wigeon Bar-tailed Godwit American wigeon This bird is recognized by the of wildlife or its habitat is designated as a Special long upward curve of its beak. Northern pintail The bar-tailed godwit breeds in Protection Area in order to restrict development Northern shoveler northern Eurasia and Alaska and for a specific period. Common pochard migrates south to Australia and City of Nagoya Tufted duck Africa in winter. It uses Japan as ●A protected area is classified into one of four a stopover in spring and autumn. Greater scaup categories: large habitat, site for migratory birds, Common goldeneye Smew breeding site, or wildlife habitat for endangered Red-breasted merganser species. Osprey Oriental honey- * Applicable law: Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law (Act buzzard No. 88 of 2002) Black-eared kite White-tailed eagle * As of March 31, 2003, 56 locations spanning a total Northern goshawk of 495,000 hectares have been designated as National Japanese sparrowhawk Wildlife Refuges, of which 44 have been named Special Eurasian sparrowhawk Grey Plover Protection Areas covering 117,000 hectares. Common buzzard A member of the Charadriidae Grey-faced buzzard family, the grey plover is known to migrate over long distances. Northern harrier It breeds in northern Eurasia Wildlife Protection Area Special Protection Area Eastern marsh harrier and North America and winters (Article 28 of the law) (Article 29 of the law) Peregrine falcon in Africa, Australia, and South Classification America. Japan is both a stopover Eurasian hobby and wintering site for this bird. The Minister of the Merlin Environment designates An area deemed of wildlife protection areas as particular significance to Eurasian kestrel Reed bed/muddy wetland areas deemed of particular the protection of wildlife Water rail significance to protect wildlife or its habitat within a Ruddy-breasted crake A variety of organisms Objective in an international and wildlife protection area Common moorhen inhabit the brackish national context. Eurasian coot water where fresh water and seawater Activities requiring Eurasian oystercatcher government permission intermingle. • Hunting is prohibited • Construction, Common ringed plover Tranquil water • Residents are prohibited renovation, and environment from interfering with the Little ringed plover expansion of construction of the nesting Kentish plover Duck habitat structures and feeding facilities Restrictions • Landfilling or Lesser sand plover required for wildlife breeding ★ reclamation of the Greater sand plover Osprey Village of Tobishima and habitat. A large, fish-eating hawk, the water environment Pacific golden-plover osprey inhabits coastlines and • Tree cutting Grey plover lakeshore, where it can be Grey-headed lapwing seen hovering above water Tidal flat With in the effective Northern lapwing before diving to catch fish 20 years max. (renewable) period set for a wildlife with its claws. The osprey is A feeding and resting period Effective protection area Ruddy turnstone considered a species at risk. Breakwater/levee site for large flocks of Red-necked stint Resting site for shorebirds; a habitat for Long-toed stint shorebirds benthic organisms such Temminck’s stint as Japanese mud shrimp Dunlin and Japanese corbiculae Curlew sandpiper Red knot Great knot Tidal flat Area around the Sanderling A feeding ground for training dike Ruff benthic organisms A resting site for water birds Broad-billed sandpiper (crustaceans) and when the adjacent tidal flat Long-billed dowitcher large snipes; a feeding is submerged; a feeding/ Tidal Flats — Purifying Water and Sustaining Wildlife and resting site for Asian dowitcher Eastern Marsh Harrier★ resting site for osprey A small group of Eastern marsh shorebirds when the Spotted redshank Wastewater generated by human activity contains harriers breeds in reed beds in adjacent tidal flat is Common redshank Central Japan and northward. submerged a large volume of inorganic nutrients and organic Common greenshank They migrate to the main substances — including phosphorus and nitrogen Green sandpiper island of Japan and southward to winter in reed beds in Wood sandpiper wetlands and on reclaimed — that feed phytoplankton. Prolonged warm Grey-tailed tattler land where they prey on birds weather produces phytoplankton blooms and Common sandpiper and small mammals. This species is listed as vulnerable. triggers a phenomenon called “red tide,” which Terek sandpiper ©JSI Black-tailed godwit significantly harms fish and shellfish. On tidal Bar-tailed godwit Legend National Wildlife Protection Area ●Classification: Sanctuary for migratory birds flats and shoals, however, benthic organisms Eurasian curlew ●Area: Wildlife Protection Area: 770 hectares Far eastern curlew such as Japanese mud shrimp, corbiculae, crab, Special Protection Area (Ramsar site) Special Protection Area: 323 hectares Whimbrel and lugworms purify the water by consuming Common snipe Tidal flat ●Effective period: November 1, 2002–October 31, 2012 Latham’s snipe phytoplankton. Holes created by these organisms Black-winged stilt The Tidal Flat in the mud also help to Red-necked phalarope bring oxygen into the Pomarine jaeger Ecosystem Black-headed gull Saunders's Gull★ seawater to promote Herring gull The largest colony of Saunders’s gulls is