We had the chance to observe an adult and a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla that were unable to fly. The adult bird was picked up alive on the beach near Fushoji, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa prefecture. This bird was taken to Ishikawa Bird Obsarvatory and was fed with small fish but couldn't be released. The juvenile bird, captured at Sodegaura-machi, Chiba prefecture on 26th November 1988, was ringed (Ring No. 080-07197) and released at Chiba port, Chiba-shi on 5th December 1988.
Wing and head plumage, together with bill shape and hind toe structure showed these birds identifiable as
Rissa tridactyla pollicallis.
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