Firefly school

I would like to inform observing larva of Genji-Firefly ay Firefly school.




Firefly school exists at East of Okazaki city in Aichi prefecture.
I ride Meitetsu train from Nagoya to Motojyuku station, and ride a taxi about 20minutes, arrive at Firefly school.

Firefly school was Tokkawa elementaly school.
Tokkawa elementaly school discontinued 7years ago.
Okazaki city change this school to Firefly school.


Firefly school breed fireflies.
Early June, lots of firefly shine lights near this school.



In the entrance aquarium, larvae hatching from the eggs in late June and lots of semisulcospira are raised.
 



After entering the firefly school entrance, and I go ahead a shallow container so that the firefly larvae are easy to see.
You can see the larvae, that are 5 - 8 mm length, are walking when the clerk moves the stone.



When Firefly becomes an adult, it drinks only water, and die in about a week.
During one week, male and female matings and birth children.
 
Genji fireflies live only in the clear stream.
I want to keep the river clean, and want to see firefly shine forever.
 
Please observe the firefly's larva as well as seeing the firefly shine lights.

That's it.

Observation of Swallow's roost

I would like to inform swallows returning to roosts.

"Observation of the swallow's roost" held by the Japan Wild Bird Society from the end of July to the beginning of August.
I participated it, and was impressed.

Take the subway Sakuradori line from Nagoya station and get off at Aioi mountain station, walk to the south for about 8 minutes, I arrive at Horagaike Park.


I observe the swallows returning to their roosts.

Swallows are migratory birds that came to Japan in spring and raised their children, after nesting in June, they grow to adults and travel to wintering areas in September.
Overwintering areas are Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and so on.
From the middle of July to the middle of August 2000 to 3000 swallows are roosting at this pond.
In the daytime, the swallow fly around the sky away from the pond, looking for food, returning to this pond in the evening, stopping at the stem of the Ashi growing in the pond.

The observation is good in the evening when it gets dark.
From 19:00 to 19:30 is the best.



Swallows gather this pond from 19:00.
Swallow fly around the top of the pond at high speed, then stop at the Ashi stem and sleep.

The number of swallows are increasing, and at around 19:10 the sky above the pond is covered with swallows.
The swallow fly around at high speed has power.

There are several swallows stopping at the branches of the Ashi.
Ashi is covered with black swallows.

The nearest Swallow is stopping at Ash at a distance of about 2 m from the fence of the pond.

It is best time to visit until August 15th.

When observing, please take countermeasures against insect repellent.
And keep quietly without flash photography.

Swallows are decreasing in number year after year, due to capture by crows and reduction of farmers.
Swallows are rare birds who make nests in human houses and trust people.
Please observe with gentle watching.

That's it.

Nature forest in Nagoya city and Omori-Tenno-Festival

I would like to inform Nature forest in Nagoya city.


I ride Meitetsu train from Sakae-Machi to Omori-KinjyoGakuinUnivercity.
Walk 6minutes, arrive at KinjyoGakuinUnivercity.

This univercity has a big forest.


This forest's woods were cut at World War 2.
After war, KinjyoGakuinUnivercity keep this forest.
About 60years after, this forest is revived as a nature forest.

This day Satoyama Nature lecture is held in this forest.
We can attend this lecture.

After passing beautiful canpus, we arrive at a big forest.



There is a big forest on the western side of the university, and you can see the untouched forest, Red pine, Quercus, Kunugi, Oak, Shy etc.
It is a forest that is standing for about 70 years after the trees have grown out, changing from sunny trees to shady trees.


When the events such as public lectures of the university will be held, non-college students can enter.

Yatsurugi Shrine's "Omori-Tenno-Festival" will be held on the first Sunday in August as the summer festival in this area.
This festival is a festival that began in the late Edo period. It is a festival that draws a mountain car 'Dashi'.




Festival: The morning department is from 10 o'clock to 12:30, and the afternoon department is held from 4 o'clock in the evening to 9:30 pm.

It is a festival of a Dashi like a small scale Gion festival in Kyoto.
You can see the routing of Dashi car in front of you.

Enjoy nature and festival in the Omori area of ​​Moriyama Ward.

That's it.

Nagoya Fujimae-Higata observing trip

I would like to inform Fujimae-Higata observing trip.


Fujimae-Higata is the tidal flats registered under the Ramsar Convention, that is located at south of Nagoya city.



Observing Fujimae-Higata needs you to reserve the Fujimae-Higata observation day,
that are planning by Fujimae-Higata Activity Center.

I attend Fujimae-Higata observing day.
Going to Fujimae-Higata, I ride a bus from Nagoya station to Nanyo-town-FujimaeHigata-front bus stop.

Biological observation of Fujimae-Higata is done at low tide.
In April it is at low tide from 14: 00-15: 00.

Except the low tide, the tidal flat is gone, it will be covered with the sea surface.

Before going to tidal flat, sea water flow is existing.
The flow depth is about 50cm.
I recomend you to wear beach sandals with bare feet, and scoop up pants over the knees.


The ocean of this tidal flat is brackish water mixed with sea water and river water.
The tidal flat is covered with mud that has a pattern like a wave, and the mud has a lot of shellfish and crustacean holes.

The living creatures,
Bird: Snipe, Swindle, little ringed plover, Sea gull, Duck, Japanese cormorant,





Shellfish: Corbicula, Sotoori shellfish,


Crustacean: Upogebia pusilla, Crab


Fish: Goby, Fluke

Arround this tidal flat, sea water is clean, because many living creatures eat organic matters.

When you would like to observe birds, please go to Inaei visitor center.



This center is near the Noseki station of Aonami train.
This cente is not necessary the reservation.

Please observe Fujijae-Higata, and understand to keep this tidal flat.

That's it.