Breeding and Distribution of <i>Grus japonensis</i> in the Southern Part of Tokachi District, Hokkaido

IIJIMA Yoshiaki, YAMADA Masaichi

doi:10.3838/jjo1915.32.129

Observations were made on the Japanese Crane Grus japonensis at Taiki in the southern part of Tokachi District, Hokkaido, for 14 years from 1969 to 1982. Cranes were first recorded at Taiki in 1953 and have been observed between late March and late December every year since 1965. During the breeding season they occur at shallow lakes and marshes along the Pacific coast, such as Lakes Kimonto, Oikamanai and Horokayanto, as well as at Toberi Marsh at the mouth of the Toberi River, although some individuals were occasionally seen to the south of the river in fall and winter. Taiki is currently the southernmost and westernmost breeding area of the Japanese Crane. <br>Every year eggs were laid in mid-April, approximately 2 weeks after the birds arrived. Chicks were observed in late May. At Lake Kimonto, in spite of its small area (ca. 3km²), 2 or 3 pairs bred every year from 1973 to 1982. At Lake Oikamanai one pair was observed breeding in 1979 and 1980. At Lake Horokayanto one pair laid 2 eggs in 1981, but this nest was abandoned because of flooding in late April. Since then no cranes have bred at this site. At Toberi Marsh, (ca, 4km²), one pair has bred every year since 1971. Thus 3 to 4 pairs breed at Taiki each year. <br>During the study period the greatest numbers of cranes observed were 15 in June 1980 (8 adults and 7 chicks) and 12 in July-August 1976 (6 adults, 1 subadult and 5 chicks), October 1980 (8 adults and 4 chicks), and December 1982 (9 adults and 3 chicks).

Breeding and Distribution of <i>Grus japonensis</i> in the Southern Part of Tokachi District, Hokkaido

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