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Wednesday, February 28, 2024
By Japan Dreamscapes Photography Tours
Field Report from our Hokkaido photo workshop leader!
Today and for the next couple of days, my annual Hokkaido birding photo workshop will take place in the Kushiro Wetlands photographing Red-Crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis). In the region, we may encounter other wild species such as the Hokkaido red-tail foxes (Vulpes vulpes schrencki), Shima Enaga (Aegithalos caudatus japonicus), Ural Owls (Strix uralensis), Pyer’s woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki), and Sika Deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) among others. The Red-Crowned Cranes (タンチョウ, Tanchō in Japanese) are also known as snow ballerinas because of their courtship dance. The Red-crowned Cranes are also considered symbols of fidelity, undoubtedly from their lifelong love and devotion to one another, as they mate for life. Their dancing rituals are where the appellation 'snow ballerina' is derived. When two Red-crowned Cranes begin their courtship dance, the elegant choreography of the pair's movements echoes the cranes' growing devotion to each other as they raise their heads simultaneously and let out a fluting call. The call is so moving that on some occasions, the dance will inspire other crane couples to begin their own. The dance is awe-inspiring, and their movements will create gallery-worthy photography print or video for you when you join my annual Hokkaido Winter birding Photography Workshop.