Tancho (Red-crowned crane)
Order: Gruiformes; Family: Gruidae.
Designated and protected as a Special
Natural Monument. About 140 cm in length.
The red color on the head is their
trademark, and "Tan" in the Japanese name
Tancho means "red" and "cho" means "crown
of head". These cranes were once
considered extinct, but the number has now
recovered to about 1,000 within the
country thanks to devoted feeding and
caring. The best place to observe these
cranes was always Kushiro-shitsugen Marsh,
but now they also live in the Sarobetsu-
genya Moor and Notsuke-hanto Peninsula. In
Japan, cranes are considered to bring
luck, which draws many tourists to the
Kushiro-shitsugen Marsh. The Ainu refer to
them as Sarurun Kamui or god of the
marshes.
Ororon Birds (Common Guillemot)
Order: Charadriiformes; Family: Alcidae.
The name Ororon Birds comes from the sound
of their call. About 45 cm in length.
These birds live on the sea, but during
the breeding season they form colonies on
rocky cliffs. These birds live only on
Teuri-to Island in Japan and are in great
danger of becoming extinct in the very
near future.
Shimaaoji (Yellow-breasted
Bunting)
Order: Passeriformes; Family: Emberizidae.
These birds fly to wet grassy fields where
common reed grass or Japanese silver grass
grows, and their singing is lovely. They
usually live in vast grass fields near
large rivers such as the area along the
Ishikari-gawa River. Their recent decrease
in number is of particular concern.
Nogoma (Siberian Rubythroat)
Order: Passeriformes; Family: Turdinae.
Summer bird breeding in Hokkaido. The male
of this species is easily recognized by
the red patch on his throat and the
powerful beauty of his song. These birds
are often seen in grass fields, wild
flower gardens and bushes on the seashore.
Oojishigi (Latham's Snipe)
Order: Charadriiformes; Family:
Scolopacidae. These birds breed in the
meadows of the Yufutsu-genya Moor in
Tomakomai and areas around the western
part of Hokkaido. When winter comes, they
fly south to Southeast Australia to pass
the winter.
Shimafukurou (Blakiston's Fish
Owl)
Order: Strigiformes; Family: Strigidae;
Genus: Bubo. One of the largest owls in
the world. Having decreased in number due
to deforestation, they are now seen only
in eastern and central Hokkaido. These
birds are sometimes called the
"Philosopher of the Forest" due to their
appearance, and the Ainu call them "Kotan
Koru Kamui (god overseeing the village)".
