In Tsurui Village in eastern Hokkaido, the red-crowned cranes, which are designated as a special natural monument of Japan, are seen performing a courtship dance as the season of love begins.
The red-crowned cranes, which are designated as a special natural monument of the country, are in love season from February to March before the breeding season in spring.
Around 9 am on the 2nd, about 120 red-crowned cranes gathered from nearby roosts in search of food at a feeding station in Tsurui Village, one of the leading wintering grounds for red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido.
At the feeding grounds, males and females were seen chirping together, facing each other, spreading their wings, bending and stretching their necks, and jumping in a courtship dance.
The sight of the red-crowned cranes dancing gracefully in the snowy fields is a tradition of this season, and some people were able to take pictures of them.
A man in his 70s who came to see the red-crowned crane said, "I've come to like the way they greet each other during their courtship dance. They look cute and endearing."
This season, the maximum number of red-crowned cranes per day was reduced by about 40 compared to last season due to the fact that the amount of feeding was restricted due to the influence of bird flu and the temperature was low.
Osamu Harada, chief ranger of the Tsurui Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary, said, "Red-crowned cranes are very human-like and attractive birds that call each other and act as a family unit, so please listen to the nature guide in advance and enjoy it." was talking