Records of birds in the Tsugaru region in the early Edo period: About records of hawk hunting and cranes

Abstract

 This study traced historical records regarding hawk hunting and crane trapping of the Hirosaki clan during the early Edo period. It revealed that there were many designated fields where Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, and Peregrin falcons were captured for falconry purposes. Falconers played important roles by regularly providing meat for the castle kitchen throughout the year. The falconers hunted numerous Skylark and Common quail during summer, and hunted goose and wild ducks from autumn to spring. The findings this study also indicate that the grassland was wide during that time period.

 Japanese cranes were recorded from spring to autumn; thus, the data indicates that Japanese cranes are likely to have been breeding in the Tsugaru region; these cranes were often captured by peasants. On the other hand, white-naped cranes and hooded cranes were captured during the spring and fall migration period. Such records suggest that these cranes flew over the Tsugaru region when they migrated from north to south, and vice versa.