This month marks 10 years since the prefecture's first decentralized breeding of crested ibises began in Natsuto, Teradomari, Nagaoka City. The city's breeding center accepted two pairs of four birds in October 2011, and succeeded in breeding them in 2012. A total of 49 birds have been sent to Sado so far. The city will also develop facilities and places where visitors can learn about the importance of the crested ibis and the natural environment, and use them for children's learning. What is expected in the future is the release of crested ibises on Honshu, which the Ministry of the Environment is considering. The city plans to consider whether to put forward a bid for a candidate site based on the understanding of the locals and the maintenance of the habitat environment. (Honami Murayama, Nagaoka branch office)
In mid-October, in a cage in the observation building of the distributed breeding center, crested ibises were leisurely pecking at the water's edge and flying around. Currently, there are 9 adult birds for observation and breeding. This year, 6 birds were born from 2 breeding pairs.
Distributed breeding was started because there was a risk of annihilation due to bird flu etc. if kept in only one place. Toki came to the center on October 11, 2011. Of the 49 birds sent to Sado so far, 35 have been released into the wild, contributing to the return of the crested ibis to the wild.
The reason why Nagaoka City started distributed breeding was that it would be useful for recovery from the Chuetsu earthquake.
Breeding was fumbling. Foreman Toshikatsu Takizawa, 56, who has been involved from the beginning, recalls, "I had no experience, so I asked about Sado and other dispersed breeding areas and came up with ideas."
Crested ibis is a sensitive bird and panics when something is out of the ordinary. In order to make sure that the keepers remembered their faces, they fixed the person in charge, decided on cleaning procedures, and paid close attention. Ten years later, Mr. Takizawa says, "I've found the right timing for people to get involved in breeding."
Promoted the development of facilities for citizens. In 2012, the former Natsuto Elementary School was refurbished to open the “Crested Crested Nature Study Center” where visitors can learn about the natural environment. Exhibit specimens of Toki and introduce the ecology. In 2018, he opened “Tokimi-te”, where you can observe animals through a cage. About 30,000 people visit each year, and it is also used for field trips by elementary and junior high school students.
In July, 17 3rd graders from Okozu Elementary School in Teradomari Gokuso visited both facilities for comprehensive study. We observed the feeding and learned about the ecology and the environment necessary for its inhabitation.
The children are currently making materials and quizzes for the school presentation on November 3rd. Shun Honda, 8, of a group that focuses on natural predators of crested ibises and their food, said enthusiastically, "I saw a crested ibis fly and see the beautiful colors of its wings. I want to tell people what I can do to protect nature." He expects to see flying crested ibises and birds released in Teradomari, and says, "I want to see them in Teradomari as well."
Center Director Katsuji Hotta (64) said, "I want people in the community to deepen their understanding of the importance of preserving the environment so that the crested ibis can return to the wild."
The number of crested ibises, which used to be all over the country, has decreased due to overhunting and the deterioration of their habitat, and in the end they only remained on Sado Island. In 1981, the government captured the five remaining wild birds en masse in an attempt to increase their numbers through artificial breeding. However, breeding by Japanese crested ibises did not go well. Kin died in 2003, and the Japanese crested ibis became extinct.
On the other hand, in 1999, a pair of ibis gifted from China succeeded in artificial breeding for the first time in Japan at the Toki Conservation Center in Sado. The number has increased since then. In 2008, 10 birds were released on the island with the aim of returning them to the wild.
The release of birds on the island continued, and they succeeded in breeding in the wild. As of the end of September, there are 667 crested ibises in Japan, including the estimated number in the wild. Of these, 183 are being bred in four dispersed farms, including Nagaoka, and on Sado.
As the next step, the Ministry of the Environment will revise the roadmap in July of this year, aiming for the establishment and breeding of crested ibises in Honshu around 2035. In October, we presented a draft of the criteria for selecting areas for releasing birds on Honshu. He mentioned that there is a certain amount of paddy fields and waterside areas where crested ibises can live, and that Sado City and the selected areas should promote exchanges toward coexistence.
Nagaoka City also hopes that crested ibises will eventually live in the city. On the other hand, regarding the release of birds, it is necessary to develop satoyama, which will serve as feeding grounds, and to gain the understanding of residents. Hideyuki Sakurai, 53, manager of the environmental policy section of the city's environment department, said, "We want to improve the city's environment and coexist with all ecosystems. The crested ibises are a symbol of environmental conservation." It is an issue.