Okinawa woodpeckers raise their babies in Takae

Okinawa woodpeckers raise their babies in Takae

On May 8, a male noguchigera or Okinawa woodpecker feeds its baby bird at 3:10 p.m. near Okinawa Prefectural Road 70 in Takae, Higashi.


May 9, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

A member of a volunteer group confirmed that a rare bird with special national heritage status, is raising babies in the forest of Takae, Higashi. Chosei Tamaki, 74, the head of an environmental NGO, discovered an Okinawa woodpecker (or Noguchigera) nest just before national bird week (May 10-16). He said he worries that land development, cutting down trees and the U.S. helipads construction in the U.S. Northern Training Area near Takae might affect the birds. The nest was found on a Sudajii tree, and a parent bird kept bringing food to the nest.

Tamaki said, “Noguchigera woodpeckers may not be able to build their nests if the land development, the construction works and U.S. military training continue.”
He stressed an urgent need to protect the bird from such threats.

“Noguchigera is one of the world’s most precious bird species. We need to protect them and preserve the environment of the Yambaru area in order to be designated as a World Heritage Site.”

(English translation by T&CT, Hitomi Shinzato)

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