Visitor Center Report

I encountered a buck along the Ishikari River this morning.
Unfortunately, he dashed off the second he saw me.
Deer are wild animals, so they naturally run away whenever they see a human being. However, in the case of the Cervus nippon yesoensis, they have been hunted by people since ancient times, so it’s not at all surprising that the buck would turn and run.
Other than humans, another natural enemy of the Cervus nippon yesoensis is the snow.
They have a great deal of difficulty walking through deep snow on their slender legs.
The death rate among Cervus nippon yesoensis rises greatly during the winter months. Although the lack of food and low temperatures are thought to play a role here, the rate goes even higher in years of heavy snow.
Photos: Cervus nippon yesoensis buck Dec. 20

Despite the very cold morning, I entered the forest in search of Pteromys volans orii.
Pteromys volans orii is generally nocturnal. They become active after emerging from their nests in tree hollows about 30 minutes to an hour after sunset. Then, at about the same time after sunrise, they come out again to relieve themselves and return to their nests. This means there are two opportunities to see them each day (although this “schedule” does not apply during breeding season).
To find them, it is first important to locate a place with an uninterrupted grouping of trees. The next thing to do is to find their droppings and then where leaf buds and other things they were eating are scattered about.
If these can be successfully located, the only thing left is to find the hollows they use for nests in the trees. After that, it becomes a matter of waiting very quietly until the squirrels come out. Unlike the summer, the accumulating snow of winter makes it possible to go just about anywhere on snowshoes. It also makes it easier to find the squirrels’ droppings.
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find their droppings in ordinary places, without even entering the forest.
Why don’t you try finding the Pteromys volans orii yourself?
After all, walking is good for your health.
Photos: Pteromys volans orii and their droppings Dec. 19

It was so cold it hurt…
Not only my body, but my hands, feet, and face…
However, it’s only on days like this that a very beautiful icing phenomenon can be seen.
Scenes like those shown in the photos can be found everywhere…
The ice is so beautiful, it makes one forget the cold and want to gaze at it forever.
The phenomenon in the photos occurs when fine droplets of cold water attach to a tree branch or other object and immediately freeze. The result is a fragile white ice called “rime.”
This fragile ice lies scattered all around, having been knocked to the ground by the gentle breeze.
It creates a scene of considerable beauty.
Photos: Rime Dec. 19

The Sorbus commixta mentioned in a recent report are still laden with berries.
A variety of birds have arrived to feed on them. The ground under the trees along the road is littered with berries that were dropped by the birds, creating spots of bright red on the pure-white snow.
The bird in the photo is Coccothraustes coccothraustes. The hawfinches take turns eating the berries with large numbers of Bombycilla japonica, Bombycilla garrulus, Turdus eunomus, and other birds.
Bird-watching is an activity that can be enjoyed all through the year.
Even though this season offers fewer opportunities to venture outside, it might be a good idea to keep your binoculars ready.
Photos: Coccothraustes coccothraustes at Sorbus commixta berries. Dec. 18

The theme of course was “Walking at the Foot of Daisetsuzan: The Old Growth Forests of the Ishikari River.”
It involved an observation tour of a place where many large trees can be seen along the Ishikari River that is near the Sounkyo Rikuman national park entrance.
Although the trees can be seen from National Route 39, the scenery changes dramatically just by walking away from the road a short distance. There, a magnificent forest waits to be enjoyed.
The weather on the day of the course was snowy with high winds. However, the wind calmed within the old growth forest, and the freshly piling snow made for a pleasant walk on snowshoes.
This low-wind environment is home to a variety of large trees, including Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Fraxinus mandshurica, Betula maximowicziana, Populus suaveolens, Abies sachalinensis, and Picea jezoensis.
In 1954, a typhoon known as the “Toya-maru Typhoon” blew through Sounkyo and knocked down a great many trees. However, damage in the area visited by the course was slight.
The course considered the effects that topography and wind have on trees.
It should be noted that heavy snow fell in Sounkyo for several days prior to the course. The day of the course alone had snowfall of up to 45 cm. It may be too early to say for sure, but it appears that snowshoe season may finally be here.
Photo: Course participants heading to the old growth forest. Dec. 15