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Teuri Island is the only breeding site of the Common Guillemot in Japan.
At one time the birds’ population was reduced to 13 birds, but their numbers are now recovering.
This year again, Common Guillemots are seen bringing food back to the nest. Bringing food back to the nest means that chicks are born, and the circle of life continues for these species, which is a very comforting thing to know! The first confirmation was made on 8th of July, so it seems that the Common Guillemot’s breeding season is the same as in previous years.
A project was underway on Teuri Island to use decoys to entice them back to the island due to a decline in their population.
This year, the caves that have been used as breeding grounds have become very cramped with decoys and real Common Guillemots, like a crowded train in Tokyo.
This may be why Common Guillemots have been frequently seen perched on rocks other than the breeding caves since the beginning of July this year.
Pelagic Cormorants also breed on this rocky area and congregate in large numbers in the adjacent hollows. This spot is not visible from land, and can only be observed from a seabird watching boat.
Observation of Common Guillemots went well, as they have been seen flying in groups and floating in the sea in numbers of up to 50.
The Common Guillemot population, which was reduced to 13 birds in 2002, has been steadily increasing and now exceeds 100 birds. However, there is only one breeding site in Teuri Island so far and no increase in breeding sites has been confirmed, so we hope that the number of breeding sites will increase next time, as there is concern that the population may plummet if there is only one site and natural enemies appear.
Photo & text : Wataru HIMENO
Observation : May-Jul 2023, Teuri Island, Hokkaido
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Tags: Bird photography in Japan, Common Guillemot, Sea birds, Umigarasu, Widlife of Hokkaido, Wildlife of Japan, Bid photography, Birds of Hokkaido, Birding in Japan, Teuri Island, Saiyu Travel
