The forest bird fauna of Fukushima City 2003-2013 and its ecological traits

Abstract

Little information is available about the forest bird fauna of Fukushima Prefecture where radioactive fallout has accumulated following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011. Here, we describe observations of 103 bird species in a forested area of Fukushima City known as Kotori-no-mori Sanctuary (52ha), from April 2003 to March 2013. These consisted of 35 resident species (34%), 10 summer breeders (9.7%, which remained for an average of 3.7 months), 19 winter visitors (18.4%, which remained for an average of 4.4 months), 5 migratory visitors (4.9%), 12 irregular visitors (11.7%), and 22 accidental visitors (21.4%). The recording ratios of Zosterops japonicus during the breeding and wintering seasons, Ficedula narcissina and Hirundo rustica during the breeding season, and Periparus ater during the wintering season increased annually, whereas the ratio for Passer montanus decreased annually before the nuclear accident. After the accident recording ratios of Cettia diphone, Motacilla alba and Passer montanus increased, whereas Picus awokera, Phylloscopus coronatus, and Motacilla cinerea decreased.