Avifauna of the Imperial Palace from July 2013 to May 2017

Abstract

A line census survey has been undertaken at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, every month since 1965. From July 2013 to May 2017 we conducted a monthly line transect census of 4.1 km between 9 : 00–12 : 00 and a twice-yearly capture census with 5–7 mist nets (6 or 12 m length). During the line census, we observed 16,493 individuals of 67 species, with 16 species being numerically dominant (90%). Compared to the preceding line census study (2009–2013), the numbers of Apus nipalensis, Dendrocopos major, Aegithalos caudatus, and Emberiza variabilis showed an increase, whereas those of Anas zonorhyncha, Poecile montanus, Spodiopsar cineraceus, Anthus hodgsoni, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Turdus naumanni, and Columba livia had decreased. The seasonal fluctuation in the number of species recorded was similar to the preceding study, in that from November to April, 25–30 species were observed; thereafter the number of species declined to 15 species or less in August and September, and then increased to 20 species in October. Tachybaptus ruficollis, Streptopelia orientalis, Ardea cinerea, Accipiter gentilis, Dendrocopos kizuki, Corvus macrorhynchos, Poecile varius, Parus minor, Hypsipetes amaurotis, Cettia diphone, Aegithalos caudatus, Zosterops japonicus, Passer montanus and Motacilla alba were regarded as resident species. Anas zonorhyncha, Hirundo rustica, Chloris sinica and the above 14 species were thought to breed in or around the study area. We captured a total of 247 individuals, representing 20 species, among which Cyanoptila cyanomelana, Turdus cardis and T. obscurus were not recorded in the line census.