Conservation of Wintering Hooded Cranes in Yashiro, Japan

The wintering population of the Hooded Crane Grus monacha in Yashiro, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, has declined from 250 to 41 individuals over the past 47 years. The cranes forage in harvested paddy fields during the daylight hours. Territories are defended by families in November and December and abandoned after January due to the decline in food supply. In January and February, cranes depend heavily on artificial food provisioning. During the nights, cranes communally roost on the top of terraced paddy fields, bare ground on hills, or ponds. When the temperature drops below 0°C, roosts on ponds are used frequently. Reduction of foraging areas, human disturbance and degradation of roosts are the major causes of the population decline. Conservation of the wintering area has recently been enhanced by the efforts of the municipal government, which has provided provisioning, rebuilt roosts and reduced human disturbance.