Rare and new records of birds from the Ryu Kyu Is.

Abstract

New specimen records of Aquila heliaca (Iriomote I.), Aegypius monachus (Miyako I.), Ciconia ciconia (Okinawa I.), Diomedea immutabilis (Kume I.) and Grus vipio (Okinawa I.) (by Takara), and 65 sepecies to be added as specimen or sight records to avifaunae of islands of the Ryu Kyu Chain (Okinawa to Yonaguni), as the result of field and specimen survey during January 12 and February 17, 1969 (by Kuroda), are reported. Brief notes on status of a few species are added. Anthus cervinus (Okinawa to Yonaguni), Motacilla flava taivana (Yonaguni) and Phylloscopus inornata (Okinawa to Yonaguni), for example, were common wintering species, the second species having been found foraging in association with grazing cows. Turdus pallidus was very common on all islands except Iriomote. Endemic Dendrocygna javanica and Spilornis cheela (Saphaeopipo noguchii has been treated in other article) are decreasing owing to increasing hunting. Butastur indicus which concentrate on Miyako I. on migration in great numbers had been so much caught by islanders by special perching devise that has greatly decreased recently. The search for Halcyon miyakoensis was made based on remour of its rediscovery but with no definite evidence, though further care should be kept on this species.Only Miyako I. is flat possibly with stable air conditions and this may be a reason why rather many atragglers of large gliding birds, including hawk, eagle, crane or stork, have been found and caught. Rarities are often shot against game law and protection of native as well as these migrants is needed.