Changes in avifauna of northernmost Japan revealed through oral traditions of indigenous Ainu people and old trading records OAkie Yamamoto’, Atsuyo Hisai' , Reiko Kurosawa? 1. Hokkaido University. Sapporo. Japan. 2. Japan Bird Research Association, Fuchu, lanan |. Introduction P-Backgrounds Many of the large flagship bird species for conservation are distributed primarily in north-eastem Hokkaido. Cranes, eagles and large owls seem to have ranged much more widely in earlier times, but their ranges before the 19th century in particular have not been accurately determined, P objective We investigated records of large bird species (e.g, cranes, eagles and owls) from Hokkaido in the early-modern ‘times that help clarify their distributions and their uses by humans in order to examine the impact of human activities oon these birds. D Materials and methods We examined herbals, illustrated books of birds, sales books of local products, local history books, travelers’ journals and official documents from the 16th to the 19th century as well as ethnography between the 20th and the 2st century. bon Ainu people Ainw is the indigenous people of Japan who have lived on the archipelago since the times before the agricultural folks came there. They basically lived by hunting, fishing and foraging, occasionally trading and interacting with the other peoples of Northeast Asia. They were known to reside in Ezochi (current Hokkaido), the Kril Islands, Skhalin Island and northeast Asia during the 17th-19th century (the period of this study). Table 1. Period when the records of birds appeared in history, Tybe of revords/Period 476 )48C)a8e! Total’ Table. shows the type of records and the Trading record 0 ©64 ~~ 10.~—«44_—_ century of establishment. From 17% C to 19 C, 7 2 14 6 ~—_22_ the records of birds increased gradually. However, Topography the quality and quantity of the records are related iacy oe Traveler'sjournal = 1G 6B y af the ree ie og gg. tothe timing of the investigation in Ezochi by Edo Natural history bakufu, Therefore, we have to give attention to Total 3 25 45-73 the fact that the increase of the bird records does not necessarily show the increase of the bird use. | Subjects of investigation : Identification of birds drawn in Edo period Large birds (cranes, eagles and owls) were of great value in use for people in the Edo period (16th C- 19th C). It {s, therefore, to assumed that they recorded these birds in detail. Most drawings of birds from the Edo period are realistic enough to identify their species, which suggests that ornithological knowledge reached a high level in this period in Japan, + Fig. Red-crowned Z Fig2. White-naped Fig3. Hooded Crane q Crane (1849). ‘Crane (1786). (1861). ‘The most familiar ‘The species overwinters ‘This was mentioned as the Bot and therefore occasionally } observed in Ezochi bird)", which suggests that er confused with Red-crowned (Hokkaido) in “Fauna it was a rare bird in those days. well (Cranes in the records. Japonica”.Fig7. Steller’s Sea Fig8. White-tailed Sea Fig9. Mountain Hawk- Eagle (1849). Eagle (ca, 1810). " eagle (1849) Only few drawings ‘The number of rectrice Records ftom Bzochi of this species exist, of this species was (Hokkaido) mention that Which suggests thatthe ER atready known a5 12, the species has two types infocanton of i bird wherees that of Steers (arge and small. But te vas sate Sea Basle was 14, detail is not known, “RSF | Figto. Blakiston’s Fish-ow! Figtt. Ural Ow (ca. Pe Figt2, Snowy Owl (1800s) 1810). . (1800s. ‘The species was respected by The species was called 2 ‘This was a rare winter ‘Aina people as. "Kotankor- ‘the deity that calls at = _ visitor in Ezochi (Hokkaido) Kamui (a guardian deity of sight” by Aina. E inthe Edo period village/the geni loc)’ Fig, 19. Eurasian Eagle Owl (18008). There are no other accurate drawings, but the white feathers around the bill and the foot feathers sive the impression of Eurasian Eagle Owls. ‘Table2 shows the numbers of records of large bird species recognized in historical records. If there were plural descriptions in a record, we counted cach of them as one record. There are differences in the number of records depending Table2 Types of records and kinds of birds recorded. ‘Typeel cords/kindlotbindsy crane Eagle SOW TSS on species; cranes and eagles are many, but owls Trading record 2 12 1-45 are few. These records were written by Wajin, so Topography 313 138-34 ___ the selected topics depended on their concerns DiaryorTravelersjounal «-26—=S«d#~S*«?:~SC*«ty_~=«and alles. So, we cam say the difference in the ceariinaneemae recorded number of cranes, eagles and owls shows Natural history 3 0 2 the difference in value for Wajin. Alternatively, Total 44 39 17100 the difference in the number of specific birds may also affect the frequency of recording, Ill Changes in distribution area : Based on thc historical records of the Edo period We attempted to estimate the past distribution and seasonal activities (breeding and migration) of cranes, eagles and owls on the basis of detailed records from the Edo period. These records included several reports of captive birds as Well.Large birds (cranes, eagles and owls) were of great value in use for people in the Edo period (6th C- 19th C), Its, therefore, to assumed that they recorded these birds in detail. Most drawings of birds from the Edo period are realistic enough to identify their species, which suggests that omithological knowledge reached a high level in this period in Japan, = Fig 14. Distribution of Red-crowned Cranes in the Edo period. Red-crowned Cranes are currently distributed mostly in easter Hokkaido isis rentt etre aes throughout the year, without long-distance migration, | cart inioun anes In the Edo period, they were found widely in other areas than Hokkaido and migrated to southwestem Japan which they do not visit nowadays. It is Possible, however, that the cranes which visited southwestem Japan were ‘migrants fom the Asian mainland through the Korean Peninsula. In the Viscinity of Edo (current Tokyo), Red-crowned Cranes released by humans ‘occurred throughout the year and bred as well,Fig 18, Distribution of Hooded Cranes in the Edo period. Hooded Cranes currently come to southwestern Japan (mostly Kyushu and some parts of Shikoku) from the Asian mainland to overwinter, but are very rare in the other areas of Japan, ‘There were their records from the whole of Iapan in the Edo period. They seem to have overwintered in the Kanto region (central Japan) and Shikoku and Kyushu (southwestern Japan). I is possible that they bred in northem Japan (Hokkaido and the Tohoku region). Some records show that they were raised as a game bind primarily for falconry. sae aac Fig 16. Distribution of White-naped Cranes in the Edo period. White naped Cranes are currently winter visitors mostly in southwestern Japan (Kyushu and Shikoku), but rare in the other areas of Japan. ‘There were their records from the whole of Japan in the Edo period. They seem to have wintered in the Kanto region (central Japan), the Chugoku region, Shikoku and Kyushu (southwestern Japan). Observation records of young cranes in the breéding season suggest thet they bred in northern Japan (Hokkaido and the Tohoku region). This species started its spring migration earlier than Hooded Cranes that overwintered in the same sites. taped cranes Oct funk ares Fig 17. Distribution of Siberian Cranes in the Edo period. Siberian Cranes ate not currently regular visitors in Japan, ‘They seem to have wintered in the Edo period, because the few records of the species were restricted to winter and spring. Since the Japanese name ‘of “Shiro-tsura (white crane)" was sometimes used for Red-crowned Cranes, | some ofthe dots on this figure may represent the distribution of Red-crowned encores soot Sousan Canes snsercarecoderenretwuy °S, Orca otuniown ane 4 | cranes. Z | = re Fig 18. Distribution of eagle records. * ee © Oshima : 1791, 629 “White and black eagles are perched on rocks in the sea. T= ‘They are calling loudly.” | geek © Iburi 1791, 7/9 “An eagle are kept in a cage under the caves of houses. Oe a ‘trea ef eageeaner (Sas Sea Cages) ‘recede eae oanerWhte ise Eg) bcochesectircnte steal creat (Whine ag stecreal acts co urkrown ages) ‘They are to be slaughtered in the ritual from autumn to early winter” © Hidaka : 1798, 1223 “An eagle were also slaughtered as an offering in the bear ritual.” @ Ishikari : 1857, 9723, “Many of the residents (Ainu) raise bears and eagles in captivity.” © Kamikawa : 1872, 1022 “Observed eagles many times. Also I saw an eagle-sized bird with white wingtips and a white tail. This bird is called "Kuukcueretara’ in Ainu language. I lave uever seen such a bird in the mainland before.” © Soya: 1798, 8/18 “Aina people raised eagles and bears to perform bear ritual for their ancestors.” @ Kushiro : 1809, 6/6 “There is a lodge in the Honkene River to hunt eagles.”© Nemuro : 1809, 6/12, 1856, 9/17, 1856, 9/19 © Kuril : 1798, 8/13, 1809, 6/12 +A L-year-old White-tailed Eagle (Kasuo) is kept" ~ "They Keep a free-flying white-tailed eagle by a bridge * “Many eagles flock together in the Betoka River in across a river.” November-December. Eagles are captured by hook as * "These are sites of eagle hunting. Excellent eagles come they come tothe salmon bats from Urutsufi" * "Wajin shot an eagle by gun. An Ainu ran toward itand @ Skhalin : 1842 polled out its tail feathers quickly. (Tal feathers become "Eagles abound, just like Black Kites in the mainland," increasingly hard to pull out as time passes) waa nisar ats Fevers) >) Fig 19. Distribution of ow! records. ‘seco of aut Pua (Url Ons) © Matsumae : 1739 recrsat oo mit (urown ) eT ameroee ga] “Ainu in Shiraoi gave Wajin eagle tail feathers of semetaiitan \\—\Shisrateardorecr einen "| __Blakiston'sFish-owls asa etm gift for sake." Giaseteanesed © Yamakoshi: 1791, 7/3 saretaretentoeomy (of “Ainu raised a Blukiston’s Fish-owl in captivity, It was going to be ceremonialy offered to gods (owl- ritual) in September-October:* © Shiribetsu : 1791, 7/15 ""Aimu raised a Blakiston’s Fish-ow in a cage.” @ Hidaka-Monbetsu : 1798, 7/20 “Observed a Blakiston's Fish-owl in the Setsufu Rivers" © Hiraka : 1798, 12/23 "A Blakiston’s Fish-ow! was slaughtered first in the bear ritual.” © Nemury : 1809, 6/12 ‘A Blackiston’s Fish-owl is present in Nemuro as wel @ Akkeshi : 1822, 9/15 "Two Blackiston's Fish-owls were given to the Edo Bakufu (the Japanese then government) as a gift." © Shibetsu : 1872, 12/24 "Heard an ow! call at night." @ Ishikari River : 1875 "Owls are called 'Kamuy cikap (bird of the god)’ by ‘Ainu”. (Usually ‘Kamuy cikap’ means Blakiston’s Fish- owh, IV. Bird use by Wajin and Ainu The historical records showed that large birds like cranes, eagles and owls were commodities of great value in the Edo period. Uses varied, however, depending on not only the species but also the cultures. Table 3 Receiver of the trade and gift products Table3 shows the subject of bird use, e.g., “which species was given to whom?". In Trade or gift partner/kind of birds Crane fagle Owl Total Japanese history of the trade in Ezochi, Wajin Tolord 17 73 4 ~— 94 represents local lord, merchant and other To merchant 0 o 0 0 people (such as the officials of the Edo bakufu othe ather We ° 12 Who visited Ezochi to survey), Cranes and ie cher SP ‘eagles were primarily given as a gifts from Ainu ToAinu © 9 0 © tothe lords of Wajin, and exclusively given to Total 17% 5 96 __thelords, so the final recipient would be lord at the top of social hierarchy. In addition, we should also assume trade and or gift between omament Mfood WArowfeiter Hawtin “nual Muntrown motes Ainu, but in this survey, we couldn't get any record showing this cranes) agent comune Graph1 shows how the birds received as gifts were used. It is ohvions that there were differences in usage depending on species. Because records of eagle feathers traded as regular gifts or trade items were intensively obtained, records of use as eagle's arrow Graph 1 Trade or gift partner feathers are prominent.Cranes @Hunting methods: * Hawking (Wajin lords) + Guns (Wajin) + Traps, bows and arrows (Aint) ‘Use: + Food (Wajin) : — Lu Fig 20. Scene of hawking by a Tokugawa Fig 21. Trap for Red-crowned aeanalabate shogun. (19th C) Crane, (Edo Period) Trading between Wajin and Ainu: : Ain captured cranes in Ezochi (Hokkaido) to trade Wajin goods, such as rice, sake and clothing for live Goshawics were mainly used to hunt cranes. cranes and/or salted meat of cranes. ae eee Red-crowned Cranes, seal fur, salmons and sturgeons. Eagles ‘Hunting methods (Ainu) : + Wait in ahut/snow shelter and grasp eagle legs using ahook. + Pull out tail feathers and released or strangled them. ‘They sometimes captured up to ten birds a day. ‘@Captive raising (Ainu) * Mostly White-tailed Eagles and Mountain Hawk- eagles, + Pull out tal feathers in spring and autumn and used them for trading with Wajin. ~Tail feathers of captive birds are of lower quality than those of wild birds. Fig 25. A scene of Ainu Waiting for an eagle in a hut. ‘eagle in cage. (ca. 1850s) (1800) Fig 24, Trading ritual between Wajin and Ainu, (ca. 18th C) The lord of Wajin ison the left side and Ainu on the right side, Ainu brought Fig 26. Ainu raising an Fig 27. A scene of Alnu raising Fig 22. Ainu raising cranes ina cage, which appeared ‘Fig 95 tobe Red-crowned Cranes. ritualized form (17922) of carving a crane by Wain. (1797) Use (Wajin and Ainu) * Tail and wing feathers were used for arrow feathers (fletchings). + The feathers had distinct names according to species and Eg. *'Maba (rue feather), Ootori (large bird): Steller’s Sea Eagle * Motoguro (dark base): Steller's Sea Fagle (young bird?) Fig, 27-1 + Kasuo (2) ): White-tailed Eagle (1 year) Fig. 27-b Usubyo (2): White-tailed Eagle (2 year) Fig. 27-¢ + Kotori (small bird): White-tailed Eagle (3 year) " Fig 28. Names of Fig 29 Mountain Hawiceagle. (1756) oo tal feathers, At bow Three men wore engaged in (yg) =n pulling out its tail feathers. es of Ainu, (1860) Reference: A catalog of eagle tal feathers. (1658)owls ‘Hunting methods (Ainu) + They did not actively hunt Owls. «They primarily captured young that failed to fledge alive, Raising (Ainu) + They raised captured owlets for a particular period. Bear ritual "lomante" : + A form of hunting ritual which is well represented in indigenous peoples of northern Eurasia. They perform it to prey for the reincarnation of animals they kill. * Bear worship is well known across the world. For Ainu in Hokkaido, Blakiston's Fish-owls were also worshiped as “kamui (*god)". Fig 30, A scene of Ainu family Fig 31. A scene of Ainu raising raising an oul and a bear cub, (1781) owiets. (1859) “Ainu raised eagles and Blakision's Fish Ain worshiped Blakiston's Fish ‘owls to obtain arow feathers", ‘owls asa teacher of sex education, Fig 32. A drawing of an ow ritual. (ca. late 19th ©) Depicting the scene that Ainu tied the feet ‘of an ow to crossed logs and were moving itup and down to the songs of women, ‘Tabled. Period and the user of bird / bird products, Century/User Ainu Wajin Total Tabled shows the bird usage by century. The use of birds in Ezochi 7 1 2 3 hasincreased with the passage of time and there is a tendency that more 7 ts a1 56 Waiin used birds than Ainu. However, it should be noted that this tendency may be influenced by factors such as the difference in the 19 32 55 67 number of recorded historical materials, the difference in the remaining ‘Total 28 98 126 __status of historical materials, or the difference betwecn Wajin and Ainu who did not have writing system. Conclusion In this presentation, we clarified the distributions of cranes, eagles and owls in Ezochi since the Edo period (the 17 C) and the details of usage by humans and discussed the influence that human activities had at that time on these birds, Crane ‘The crane is the highest-grade gift item in Wajin society and crane products in Ezochi had been actively used as a Valuable trade goods and gifts for Wajin. As a result, Wajin’s interest was also high, and many records of cranes as valuable products were left. However, as compared to eagles wherein feathers are also traded, crane products were not the object of regular trading. Thus, the frequency in historical records was lower than that of eagles. ‘The usage of cranes is domestic breeding and food by Wajin. Cranes in Ezochi were mainly captured by Ainu and ‘were used for trade and gifts alive or dead in Wajin society. In Wajin society, cranes (particularly Red-crowned cranes) were favored for breeding as pets and for ornaments, so itis thought that the living cranes were used for breeding by Wajin, and the dead crane for food as “salted crane”, There are many unknown methods of the crane usage in Ezochi, ‘but from the tendency in Wajin society, it can be inferred that the ratio of its edible use is high. On the other hand, records of the usage of cranes by Ainu themselves is hardly obtained. Ainu also bred the crane, thereby increasing their ‘number by breeding, but we assume the purpose of breeding was for trade or gift with Wajin.beagle ‘The records of eagles are mainly concered with trading, wherein periodically purchased eagle feathers were used for fletching by Wajin, and many records such as actual transaction and market prices remain. Like cranes, the number of records of eagles shows the high interest of Wait aul the importance as a product, Usage of eagles is mainly for breeding and its feathers for fletching. Records show that fletching use was mainly trade or gift from Ainu to Wajin. Moreover, Ainu themselves also used the eagle feathers for fletching, The eagles were bred by Ainu, with the purpose of wing acquisition. Ainu regularly pulled out the feathers of the eagles and used it for ‘rade with Wajin, Besides this, in addition to confirming the record that breeding is carried out for eagle ritual, there is a record of bird clothes that were witnessed in Shumushu Island, although the ethnic group is unknown. In Japan, records of eagles for hawking weren't found because lords used mostly Goshawks, Sparrow hawks, and falcons instead for hawking. bow ‘Owls weren’t basically used as trade goods or gift items. Since owls were not given much value as a product, itis thought thatthe interest of Wajin was not as high as cranes and eagles, therefore there was not much record. However, With regards to Blakiston’s fish-owl, it can be noted thatthe tecord of donation to the Tokugawa shogun remains, This {s probably because Blakiston’s fish-owl was recognized as “local specialty” or “a bird of Ezochi’ at that time. ‘The owls were mainly bred and used by Ainu for the purpose of the owl ritual. This is consistent with the content of the records of ethnographic magazines since modern times. But, one record showed that Ainu gave wings of Blalkiaton’s fish-ow! as a return gift of “sake” w Wajin. How these wings were used is unknown, but we ean infer that the feather could have material value Large birds in Ezochi were used by both Wajin and Ainu, and in this report, there is a tendency that especially ‘Wajin were consuming more, As Wajin found high value for the birds in Ezochi, Anu also recognized the high value of the merchandise for Wajin. As the use of birds as valuable resources increased, the trapping strategy the birds in Ezochi has inercasingly sophisticated. Due to te lack of the writing system in Ainu culture, many unclear parts remain of the bird usage by Ainu. Since Ainu may have used birds for other uses than recorded by Wajin, it is necessary to elucidate the use by Ainu, including materials other than recorded materials (archaeological materials, ethnographic materials, etc.). Furthermore, itis necessary to clarify the detailed use before the 17 C which was not covered in this research,