In late June, I visited the Little tern breeding area at Kemigawa Beach. It was a Sunday and everyone seemed to be staying indoors during the COVID-19, but there were some “beach goers” out enjoying themselves. There are also some “bird watchers” with their big, long camera lenses and looking through binoculars in one particular area of the beach.
The little tern breeding ground is a section of the beach roped off to keep people out of the area.
Both the eggs and chicks are very camouflaged, and I had a hard time finding them at first. I finally found them when the parent bird brought some food to the chick. After some time, once my eyes got the right search image, then I could confirm that there were eggs and chicks everywhere.
Two eggs and one chick.
One egg and two chicks.
These two chicks were a little bigger.
The chick receiving its food.
Probably the parent birds are stressed about getting enough food to their babies, but we on-lookers are filled with joy at seeing this precious sight. We can hear loving comments and coos coming from the bird watchers as they get their food.
A newly hatched chick and its older sibling.
It is so surprising to think that this is a sight so close to Tokyo City, just on the Tokyo Bay. It really impressed me that these little guys can breed and survive these tough situations in a small area surrounded by such a metropolis. I was so moved by what I saw this day.
Photo & text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: End of Jun 2020, Kemigawa beach, Chiba, Japan
Special Thanks: Hobby’s World, Rocky MATSUMURA
In the beginning of July, we operated a tour called the “Teuri Island Seabird Class” lead by Takaki Terasawa, a nature photographer living on Teuri Island. First thing in the morning, we took his boat the “Keimafuri-Go” and headed out to sea. (Keimafuri is the Japanese name for the Spectacled Guillemot.) We went to the rocky outcrop near Aka iwa (Red Rock) where the Rhinoceros Auklet like to gather.
These birds are said to be widely distributed along the North Pacific Seas, from Japan’s northern coast to the Kuril Islands, Aleutian Islands, and towards Alaska, but it is not easy to get close enough to see them. It is quite rare to find places where you can observe them actually!
Teuri Island is the largest breeding area in the world for these Auklets, and here you can see them when the adult birds display their “horns” (and pretty easily to access at that!) so this spot is quite a precious place.
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
The “horns” of the Auklets are a special growth that appears on their beaks during the breeding season on adult birds. This horn is where they get the name “Rhinoceros Auklet.” This protrusion is not seen on young birds or non-breeding birds. The first time I saw a Rhinocerous Auklet was super exciting! I happened to be on a sperm whale cruise in the Nemuro Strait and we knew the sighting was so rare.
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
The outcrop that is near the tidal areas of Akaiwa (Red Rock). For some reason the birds are always trying to land on this rock and there seems to be some important social interactions happening there. Some of them display some territorial behaviors and chase away other birds to keep them off of the rocky structure.
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
This group of 4 birds seem to be involved in a conversation about something.
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
Dynamic moves afoot!
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
These two are looking quite, um, friendly?
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
These two are also having a good relationship as well?
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
These two are an item, it seems!
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
There are so many different things going on in this place, I could just watch them for a long time! It is an important place for the Rhinoceros Auklets.
Rhinoceros Auklets seen from the Akaiwa Observatory, Teuri Islnad, Hokkaido
The view you see, looking down from the Akaiwa Observatory. You can see how all the Auklets are gathering around this single rock outcrop.
Rhinoceros Auklets, Teuri Island, Hokkaido
While I was observing them, they suddenly, all took off and flew away at once. This morning, we could have stayed watching them all day long, watching the interesting interactions of the Auklets. In 2021 their breeding situation was a little concerning, so I pray that as many chicks as possible could fledge from this breeding area.
Text & Photo: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: July 2021, Teuri Island, Hokkaido
Teuri Island is the largest breeding ground in the world for the Rhinoceros Auklet. They are a member of the ancient murrelet family, and just as the name suggests, it has horn-like protuberance at the base of its upper beak, in its summer plumage.
The birds returning after sunset, to their nests on Teuri Island, during the breeding season is masterful. The beaks of the adults will be filled with fish like the Pacific sandlance and come into the nest at an amazing speed! When you see it, you’d think they will just collide into the ground!
After enjoying an early dinner at the lodge (fresh seasonal sea urchins at that!) the guide took us to Akaiwa Observatory parking lot. It is good manners to take this tour with a local guide in order to avoid accidents, as there is a chance that the rhinoceros auklet might be resting on the road. Once we attached our observational light to the guardrail next to the roadway and set up the tripods, then we are ready for getting some photos.
We can hear the sounds of the feathers ruffling in the wind just before the they land. Then there is a bit of a tussle between the birds that could catch fish and the birds that couldn’t as they battle for the food and cry out “Gu-e” when attacked. Those parents that couldn’t find any fish attempt to desperately “steal” their neighbor’s catch. The birds with fish, rush to their burrow after landing in order to protect the food for the chicks.
A rhinoceros auklet with a bunch of fish in its beak. It will scurry into its nest to avoid getting robbed on the way.
One auklet in hot pursuit of the one with a fish. They passed just at my feet unaware of their observers.
The pair of rhinoceros auklets appeared out of the burrow we were observing, just in front of us. They were so loving to each other.
It was a very satisfying night at the Akaiwa Observatory for us as we could see the fast homecoming + fish-filled beaks + a lovey-dovey pair of auklets.
Photo & Text : Mariko SAWADA
Observation : Jun 2018, Teuri Island, Hokkaido, Japan
