Seabirds

Precious Seabirds Protected and Nurtured by Cliffs
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Yururi Island was designated as a natural monument of Hokkaido in 1963. Since then, it has been designated and selected for protection as a Hokkaido Natural Environment Conservation Area (1976), a national bird and animal sanctuary (1982), and “Important Wetlands 500 in Japan” selected by the Ministry of the Environment (2001). At present, landing on the island is restricted. A significant reason for the restriction is the presence of valuable seabirds. The impressive name “Yururi” originally means “island with cormorants” in the Ainu language. In other words, the island has long been known for its importance as a breeding ground for seabirds. Thus, the seabirds, the identity of Yururi Island, need to be protected in the future.

One of the most critical seabirds to be protected is the tufted puffin. The tufted puffin, which means “beautiful (pirka) bill (etu)” in Ainu, has a large orange bill. Its entire body is covered in black feathers. The face is pure white. The feet and bill are the same orange color. This seabird has an impressive contrast of vivid colors. Its distribution range is vast, from the United States, Canada to Russia, and Japan. If you look at it from a global perspective, the number of inhabitants is not small. However, when it comes to Japan, the drastic decline in its population is very alarming. According to the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List published in 2019, the tufted puffin has been classified as Critically Endangered (CR), following Extinct (EX) and Extinct in the Wild (EW), meaning that it is “Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild very shortly.” Currently, only a few mating pairs exist on Yururi Island and its sub-island Moyururi Island (Moyururi means “small Yururi”). According to a study by Hokkaido University, the tufted puffin population in Japan is estimated to have declined by 87% since 1980 as of 2015.

Along with the tufted puffin, the spectacled guillemot is also a symbol of the island of Yururi. The English name of this charming seabird includes the word “Spectacled.” As its English name suggests, it has white lenticular patterns only around its eyes on its pitch-black body. Its Japanese name means “red foot” in the Ainu language, kemahure. Indeed, the vivid colors of its feet stand out even when seen from a distance. Among birdwatchers visiting the Nemuro Peninsula, it is also widely known for its beautiful chirp, often called the “canary of the sea.” According to the aforementioned Red List, it is classified as Endangered II (VU), two levels lower than the tufted puffin. This means that “species in increasing danger of extinction.” This seabird is not in a secure situation.

The key to why Yururi Island is an ideal breeding ground for seabirds lies in its topography. These seabirds spend most of the year at sea, not on land, and nest only during the breeding season. They build their nests on steep cliffs where foreign enemies cannot get. Yes, steep cliffs are the most comfortable places for seabirds to protect their eggs from foreign enemies. Surrounded by sea cliffs that rise steeply from the sea surface, Yururi Island is Japan’s last utopia for seabirds.

The spectacled guillemot and tufted puffin are the only two seabirds with official Japanese names of Ainu origin. These two small seabirds were very close to the people living in the northern seaside. However, even these seabirds face threats to their existence as their living areas are being narrowed. The tufted puffin lays only one egg, and the spectacled guillemot lays two eggs at a time. Therefore, an egg has a much heavier value than its weight. When you think about its importance, it is understandable why people are restricted from entering the island.