Sado Wildlife in Focus | The Surprising Way Crested Ibis Cope with Summer Heat

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Sado Wildlife in Focus | The Surprising Way Crested Ibis Cope with Summer Heat

Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture was once a place where air conditioning was unnecessary. But now global warming has led to ongoing summer days where it is hard for us to manage without it. The crested ibis, a special natural monument of Japan, also struggles with the daytime heat. The bird can be seen panting to cool down, taking short breaths with an open beak.

Do Birds Pant?

Summer temperatures on Sado Island at midday exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Mowing the grass along the rice paddy ridges is an important part of farm work. Here, farmers reduce their use of agricultural chemicals to ensure the crested ibis have enough food. But mowing under the scorching sun with no shade is pure torture. 

The ibis mostly avoid foraging for food in the sun during the heat of the day, preferring to rest in the shade. When hungry, however, some venture out to search for prey.

That is when they can be observed making a soft sound with their beaks open. Just like dogs that pant with open mouths when hot, crested ibis open their beaks and take repeated shallow breaths to lower their body temperature. This behavior is called panting.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to learn more about the unusual behavior of the crested ibis during the hot days of summer.

And find more great articles on the environment and the challenges of achieving the SDGs on our affiliated website Japan 2 Earth (J2E), sparking a transition to a sustainable future.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Fumie Oyama

Click here to read more Sado Wildlife in Focus photo essays by photojournalist Fumie Oyama.

Fumie Oyama is a two-time winner of the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award as a photographer for the Sankei Shimbun. After covering the reintroduction of the crested ibis to the wild for 11 years, Oyama left the company in 2020 to move to Sado Island. There, he continues to photograph the ibis and other wildlife while engaging in farming. He currently promotes the charms of Sado Island as a photojournalist. Follow Fumie Oyama on Instagram.