Developing avian monitoring methods using audio recording system and promoting the cultivation of next-generation research workers in Amami-Oshima Island, a component part of the World Natural Heritage sites in Japan ―NPO Amami Ornithologistsʼ Club―

<p>“Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island” was registered as the World Natural Heritage Site in July 2021. Monitoring endangered and endemic species is now considered to be an important responsibility of Japanese people to protect the heritage values in this site. Since 1994, the NPO Amami Ornithologistsʼ Club has been conducting a citizen-participation survey of the Amami thrush which is an endemic and endangered species in Amami-Oshima Island. To continue this survey for many years to come, it is necessary to cultivate the next-generation research workers and to develop more efficient and labor-saving survey methods. In the present study, we conducted the annual citizen-participation survey, held a symposium for the dissemination and awareness raising and tried to develop a new survey method using audio recording devices. In the survey and symposium, we passed on the message of the importance of monitoring the Amami thrush to the younger generation. In the recording research, we demonstrated that it is possible to confirm the presence/absence of the Amami thrush by using the recording devices, but we need some more improvement of analysis to recognize the bird density based on the recording data. We would like to continue efforts for dissemination and awareness raising as well as for the development of effective survey methods, aiming to build a comprehensive monitoring system for animals in Amami-Oshima Island.</p>