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Welcome to the SDGs in the News Podcast. This is Susan Yoshimura, Managing Editor of Japan 2 Earth,
coming to you from Tokyo. Today, we bring you another English article on Japan and the SDGs.
You can find the full text on our website. Just click the link in the episode notes. Have a listen.
Protecting the vulnerable little turn is no simple matter.
A non-profit works to protect the migratory little turn, a vulnerable species on Japan's
red list that nest on the roof of a Tokyo sewage treatment facility. Showajima in Ota ward of Tokyo
is one of several artificial islands situated in Tokyo Bay. Here, every spring, the little turn,
a migratory bird, comes to breed. The site is the roof of the Morigasaki Water Reclamation Center of
the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Sewerage. The roof is also host to activities
by a group of people working to protect the little turn. These are the members and volunteers of the
Little Turn Project, LTP, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of this bird,
which is at high risk of extinction in Japan. Little turns, Sternala albifrons, are 20 to
30 centimeters long and nest in hollows in sand or gravel near water, where they lay their eggs.
In the spring, they fly to Japan from Australia and New Zealand in the southern hemisphere.
They breed and return south in the summer and autumn. Their numbers have been decreasing in
Japan in recent years, mainly due to the development of waterfront areas.
Masayuki Matsumura, 68, a member of LTP's board of directors,
commented on the little turn. It makes us happy to see them come to Japan from distant countries,
raise their young, and then fly away again, he says.
It was in 2001 that little turns were first found nesting on the roof of the reclamation center.
The hard concrete roof provided a warm place for their eggs. Those who discovered the birds
consulted with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Sewerage and the Ottawa local government.
The LTP was established and activities began to facilitate the birds' nesting on the rooftop.
Soil made from sludge from the reclamation center that was treated with high heat and
crushed shells were spread to create an environment conducive to nesting. The following year,
about 2,000 birds flew into the area as the project got off to a great start.
However, the group soon ran into problems. The soil made from treated sludge was designed
to be used for gardening. After a year it was covered with naturally growing grass,
says Matsumura. Since little turns do not nest in grass, weed and grass control became necessary.
Matsumura, who lived in the neighborhood at the time, first got involved with the project when
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he helped out with weeding. Another obstacle arose, predators of the little turn. Cats,
crows, and other natural enemies began to target the eggs and young birds. Matsumura describes the
situation. We would find eggs when we surveyed, but the next time we looked, they'd be gone.
We started to feel very defeated, he reports. LTP began setting up shelters for young birds
to hide in and installing items to repel crows. But completely preventing predators from targeting
the turns is proving impossible. Recently, civets and raccoons have been found entering the area.
Matsumura and his group are working to identify their path of entry. Since the turns build their
nests in the same place every year, their natural predators quickly learn that the
location is a good place to find food, Matsumura explains. Despite the group's efforts, the number
of turns flying to Japan has declined significantly in recent years. Turns nest in large numbers in
wide open spaces where they jointly defend themselves from predators. So when their
numbers decrease, their ability to protect themselves also declines. Finding ways to
protect the dwindling numbers of little turn remains a pressing issue. According to Matsumura,
there are organizations throughout Japan involved in the birds' conservation.
We want to create a network for sharing the experience of each organization, Matsumura reports.
His group will continue to learn via trial and error process as it works to protect this rare bird.
So you never miss an episode. Until next time, this is Susan Yoshimura of Japan to Earth, signing off.
