(JA) Owls threatened with extinction

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Owls threatened with extinction

 

March 27, 2001

Asami Nagai Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer

 

NEMURO, Hokkaido--Twenty years after the Japanese crested ibis disappeared

from its natural habitat, Blakiston's fish owl may be the next species of

bird to follow suit. Blakiston's fish owl--the world's largest owl with a

wingspan of 1.8 meters--faces serious danger in the face of continued tree

felling.

 

One of the most concerned local researchers is Sumio Yamamoto, who has been

active in studying and protecting the endangered owl. Yamamoto said the

species needs a population of at least 1,000 to secure survival without

human assistance.

 

Compared to this minimum figure, the reality of Blakiston's fish owl is far

from ideal. The owl is believed to inhabit the eastern half of Hokkaido, and

the Russian-held territories of Sakhalin, Kunashiri and Etorofu islands. In

Hokkaido alone, only about 100 of the birds are said to be living in the

wild.

 

In Hokkaido, the Blakiston's fish owl only numbered between 30 and 40 in

1984, according to an estimate issued by the then Environment Agency. In

1997, authorities suggested that a target should be set for increasing the

population to 200.

 

" Provided some human care is given to them, we can probably maintain 100

without difficulty, and hopefully increase their number to 200. But that can

happen only if their current habitat is preserved, " Yamamoto said.

 

The bird--which measures 70 centimeters in height and weighs four kilograms

when mature--was once respected by the Ainu people as a guardian deity of

villages. However, the revered bird has been unable to stop the relentless

destruction of its habitat by humans.

 

Developers have cut down trees and cleared land to create farms and pasture

land. The natural habitat for wildlife has been threatened considerably and

the Blakiston's fish owl numbers among the most heavily affected species.

They have lost not only their nests but also their travel routes.

 

According to Yamamoto, Blakiston's fish owls used to travel along rivers in

forests in search of food and breeding partners. When these routes are cut

off, however, they tend to mate with their kin.

 

Another big problem,Yamamoto said, is a decrease in staple food

sources--mainly freshwater fish such as ayu (sweetfish), salmon and

trout--due to deforestation and overfishing.

 

Yuko Inoue, a researcher at Kushiro Zoo in Akancho in the prefecture, also

pointed out that salmon fishing near the mouth of rivers has deprived the

owls of their food.

 

" Humans catch salmon that would otherwise swim upstream and become potential

prey for Blakiston's fish owls. But that's not the case anymore, " Inoue

said.

 

" Like eagles that gather in the morning in search of leftovers from

fishermen, owls probably would like to go, too. But, even if they did, the

nocturnal owls would arrive in the evening, by which time all the available

fish would have been scavenged by other creatures, " Yamamoto said.

 

Determined to support Blakiston's fish owls in any possible way, Yamamoto,

with subsidies from the national government, as well as donations from

individuals, has been feeding the owls for years in winter, when

temperatures can fall to as low as minus 30 C.

 

Nearly every day, he checks ponds where he has released fish for the owls to

eat. These fish, in addition to the occasional rodent, are a very important

protein source for the owls, which are unable to catch fish in the frozen

rivers.

 

" Some of these fish (I put in) the pond probably get eaten by eagles and

other birds, but it can't be helped, " he said, breaking the surface of

newly-formed ice on one of the ponds in the woods.

 

Yamamoto is also concerned about traffic accidents. Every year, a number of

Blakiston's fish owls are killed by automobiles.

 

His statement is puzzling because roads in the area are hardly crowded at

all. " Humans and owls are not very aware of each other. That's a problem, "

he said. " Owls, unaccustomed to seeing cars, fly out of the woods without

taking precaution. And few drivers are aware of the issue. "

 

Local authorities, upon Yamamoto's request, recently placed flags at short

intervals on the bridge to prevent owls from flying low.

 

" This has been effective, " Yamamoto said. The municipal government also set

up several road signs that read " Beware of owls. "

 

Recently, Yamamoto heard good news about a purchase of a 100-hectare marsh

land located close to the owl's habitat.

 

" A plan to build a golf course was canceled and the city government bought

the plot, " he said. " Marked as a game reserve, this space is not going to be

developed into anything, " Yamamoto, who has been worried about " his " owls in

the area, happily said.

 

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