Naganuma Town is the perfect place for a drive, located less than an hour by car from Sapporo. And in Naganuma, there's a spot where you can observe a multitude of wild birds. It's called the "Maizuru Retarding Basin." Let's take a look at what kind of place it is!

The Maizuru Retarding Basin is a flood control facility built in the Maizuru district of Naganuma Town. With an area of about 200 hectares, it's quite expansive.

Photo courtesy of: Sapporo Development and Construction Department, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau

In the photo above, can you see the trapezoid-shaped open area in the middle of the fields? That very space is the Maizuru Retarding Basin. Within its grounds, you can also see watering holes favored by wild birds.

Naganuma Town was originally an area of marshes and swamps, and it is said that many water birds used to live there. With the creation of the Maizuru Retarding Basin in 2015, various birds can be seen once again. For example...

You'll notice the elegance of the swans flying in formation, and the charming, endearing faces of the swans that have landed by the water.

Photo courtesy of: Isao Takitsubo

Photo courtesy of: Kiichiro Hirabayashi

The white-tailed eagle, soaring majestically through the sky, has the true presence of a king. The sight of migratory birds taking off all at once is a grand spectacle! Seeing it in person will surely be an unforgettable experience.

But you might be wondering where to look for such sights in the vast Maizuru Retarding Basin, right? In that case, first, visit the "Maoito Bird Station" built on the premises.

In the aerial photo from earlier, it's located near the bottom left of the trapezoid-shaped Maizuru Retarding Basin. There's also a parking area, making it a perfect base for birdwatching.

Once inside the cabin, you'll find many exhibits where you can learn about the types of birds seen here and Naganuma Town's initiatives. In fact, Naganuma is working on a "town development where red-crowned cranes can also live," and it has been confirmed that a red-crowned crane chick was born in the Maizuru Retarding Basin for the first time in over 100 years.

Red-crowned cranes have been spotted again this year (2022) (by the way, the bird on the left in the photo above is a heron). When observing them, please do not get too close and watch from inside the building or your car. Also, the types of birds you can see vary by season.

Why not enjoy watching over the lives of the birds throughout the seasons with a gentle and caring eye?

＜Special Thanks＞
Policy Promotion Division, Naganuma Town
Location: 1-1-1 Chuo-kita, Naganuma-cho, Yubari-gun, Hokkaido
Contact: 0123-76-8015
Official Websites
Naganuma Town: https://www.maoi-net.jp/
Town development where red-crowned cranes can also live: https://www.facebook.com/NaganumaTancho
(Thumbnail photo courtesy of: Council for Town Development Where Red-Crowned Cranes Can Live)