【大雪山国立公園・旭岳情報】Crows / Ravens of Hokkaido - 烏

【日付】2019/8/8（木）
【場所】姿見の池園地・旭岳
【天候】雨
【気温】～15℃
【風速】～5m/s

 

photo/graphic credit to: kotobank.com

 Living in Hokkaido for a few years, and for any visitor from the lower (in latitude) islands always seem amazed by the size of the crows in Hokkaido. I like to say, well, these are ravens not crows. It turns out, many of them are crows, large billed crows, to be exact. It seems like we talk about crows/ravens alot, some people are enthralled with their size, most people say they are annoying or that they kirai (hate) them. In some cultures the ravens or crows are viewed as "divine messengers, tricksters, mediums, and omens" specifically in some Native American beliefs. This same book describes the interesting symbiotic relationship between crows/ravens and large predators as they "invite" the wolf to begin the feast due to the crows lack of ability to open a carcass. 

Here is a short list of the species of corvid found in Hokkaido:

はしぶとがらす嘴太鴉

Hashibutogarasu = "large billed crow" (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis.) Previously known as "jungle crow". 

 

はしぼそがらす嘴細鴉

Hashibosogarasu = "carrion crow (Corvus corone)

 

Species:  "Common Raven" or "Northern Raven" (Corvus corax)

わたりがらす渡鴉

"Watarigarasu"

Winter it comes to Hokkaido. 

 

Apparently the rook (Corvus frugilegus) is found in Hokkaido, but we've yet to see this species, including the cities we live. To be more precise, this would be the C. f. pastinator aka "eastern rook". 

深山烏

Miyamagarasu 

There is an excellent bird book which covers all of Japan. 

 

If you are interested in telling the difference, generally, between a raven and a crow check out this explanation by the audobon society. 

 

Here is an amazing graphic poster of the Corvids in Japan from this website. 

 

 

Sources:

https://kotobank.jp/word/%E3%83%8F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%9C%E3%82%BD%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B9-114220

 

https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=HkpyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA272&lpg=PA272&dq=eastern+rook+japan&source=bl&ots=FKX57f_QiJ&sig=ACfU3U1wEtUu6jsIplKT0e5EZ34BdRpANg&hl=es-419&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjwubnDt_LjAhVRFqYKHfWKB1EQ6AEwAXoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=eastern%20rook%20japan&f=false

Here is an amazing graphic poster of the Corvids in Japan from this website. 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/c/common-raven/

 Conservation Ranger/Guard Jeremy

 

【大雪山国立公園・旭岳情報】立秋

涼風至．北海道でも寝苦しい夜が続きましたが，朝夕の風に何となく秋の気配を感じるようになりました．

旭岳においても，実をつける植物が増えており秋めいて参りました．

【コケモモの実】

動物達もまだ食べ頃ではないのがわかっているようです．

植物食のギンザンマシコは，チングルマの実や種子を食べていました．

鳥は嘴を観察してみると様々な形状をしています．食性によって異なる嘴，面白いので良ければ観察して比べてみてください．

 

少しの間エゾシマリスと世間話をしました．体が痒いみたいですね．

 

8月にはいり，先月までほとんど毎日採食しにきていたハシブトガラスもあまり来なくなったように思います．

ゴミを散らかしたりと少々迷惑がられていたカラスも，いないと寂しく思うのは私だけかもしれないですね．

～本日のチングルマ情報～

第3展望台から，裾合平へ向かう途中の道ではミヤマアキノキリンソウ（コガネギク）が綺麗にお出迎えしてくれます．

そして，その先のチングルマの花畑は綿毛畑になっておりお花畑とは違った魅力があります．

お時間ある方，ぜひ足を運んでみてはいかがですか．

 

旭岳自然保護監視員：社本　麗南