Visitor Center Report

The Lepus timidus ainu have reappeared.
Perhaps because mating season is approaching, here and there I came across hares chasing each other around today.
Their coats have changed even more in the few days since I mentioned them in a recent post.
And boy, when they run away, they fly!
Fleeing in their characteristic hopping style, they can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
Photos: Can you spot the hares in the photo on the left? May 11

The cherry blossoms are approaching full bloom at Kamikawa Park in Kamikawa Town.
The Magnolia kobus and Rhododendron dauricum are almost completely in full bloom, and the cherry blossoms should retain their beauty for several more days.
From here the Daisetsuzan peaks can be seen. Together, the snowcapped mountains and cherry blossoms create a gorgeous landscape.
Photo: At Kamikawa Park May 10

Today I found Ardea cinerea in a breeding colony.
Their arrival here was first observed at the end of March. When I happened to pass by the same place today, I saw about 10 birds incubating eggs.
When they first arrived, their number was so great that even local residents came by to watch.
At that time, I could not have imagined that they would choose to breed in this place with so many people and cars going by.
In the case of Ardea cinerea, the male gathers materials to build a nest, while the female puts them together into a dish-shaped structure on tree limbs. After that, the male and female take turns incubating their eggs. The fledglings leave the nest about two months later.
However, crows and black kites were circling overhead. And there is a construction site right next to the colony!
I do hope the chicks grow up safely.
But why in the world did their parents build their colony in such a dangerous place?
Photos: A Ardea cinerea colony May 10

The Rhododendron dauricum are blooming in the gorge, while the Lysichiton camtschatcense are flowering near Kiyokawa along National Route 39.
Spring has definitely arrived.
The area will really come to life when the cherry trees blossom.
Photos: Rhododendron dauricum above the gorge (left) and Kiyokawa Mizubashoen Park (right)
May 10

The Rhododendron dauricum are blooming about 20 days earlier than last year above the gorge.
Here and there, the area is taking on fresh colors amid the snowy landscape.
As this happens, the coloring of the springtime “fall foliage,” a unique phenomenon of this season, is becoming deeper with each passing day.
The Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Betula ermanii, Padus ssiori and other plants are turning, greenish yellow, and green, creating an appearance that looks just like the fall foliage.
This springtime “fall foliage” is occurring because the leaves will not have sufficient chlorophyll until the time for full-scale photosynthesis arrives. As a result, they are still thin. Because of this, a substance called “anthocyanin” colors the young leaves to block ultraviolet rays and protect the
leaves.
This coloring continues to deepen at the present time. However, when it ends, the gorge will enter a season of fresh green leaves.
Although the mountains are still covered with snow, it is about the time of year to start preparations for the climbing season.
Photo: New bright-red Cercidiphyllum japonicum leaves above Sounkyo Gorge May 9