Hello, everyone! Deep in the quiet forests of Hokkaido lives Japan’s largest owl, the Blakiston’s Fish-owl. This owl, with its mysterious appearance and behavior, truly excites our imaginations!
The Blakiston’s Fish-owl has a body length of about 70cm. With its wings spread, it measures about 180cm, presenting a truly impressive sight! It has long, broad feathered ear tufts on its head. Its body is covered in grayish-brown feathers with blackish-brown vertical stripes. It has a gray-black beak and legs. Its large black facial disk and sharp, big yellow eyes intently watch over the forest.
Uniquely, this owl primarily feeds on fish. It is nocturnal, quietly stalking its prey at the water’s edge, appearing almost like a creature from another world. It makes a “woo-woo” or “woh” call. Additionally, the owls form pairs and hold a large territory, typically remaining in the same location for a long time.
In Ainu culture, the Blakiston’s Fish-owl is greatly revered as “Kotan Kor Kamuy” (the god who protects the village), serving as a bridge between the natural world and human society.
However, it’s said that only a few hundred of these magnificent owls remain in Japan. We must consider what we can do to ensure that they can continue to soar freely in the skies. See you next time!
