Frequent incidents of wild bird entrapment

Many accidents involving wild birds due to bird nets

Bird nets will be installed in the lotus fields to prevent wild birds from eating the lotus root.

Considering the scale of the damage that is actually occurring, bird nets are necessary in lotus fields. Rather, the problem is that even though bird nets are used, they are not sufficiently preventing damage.

However, another serious problem has arisen with the bird net. There are a lot of "ramou" accidents where wild birds get caught in bird nets and die.

Every year, thousands of wild birds fall victim to bird nets

According to a survey by a wild bird protection organization, Several thousand wild birds die every winter due to "ramou" accidents.

For over 20 years, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, Ibaraki Prefecture, has been conducting a continuous count survey of wild bird netting incidents. The survey method involves surveyors patrolling the lotus fields in certain survey areas for about 15 to 30 days from late January to late February and recording the species and number of birds spotted. ), 746 (2021), 556 (2022), and 424 (2023) Luomou accidents were counted. ※1)

In reality, it is thought that several times as many accidents occur.

Wild bird entrapment problem has become a social issue

The issue of wild bird entrapment caused by bird-prevention nets in lotus fields has been picked up on social media and the press, and has become a social issue, with a lotus root boycott campaign protesting against producers using bird-prevention nets. I am.

In 2019, a petition led by wild bird protection groups was submitted to the prefectural assembly demanding restrictions on the use of bird nets. ※2)

What is an effective alternative to bird nets to prevent feeding damage?

Local wild bird protection groups are advocating restrictions and bans on the use of bird nets. However, Currently, there is no effective alternative to bird nets to prevent wild birds from eating lotus root.

In the face of the scale of the damage, it is extremely irresponsible to simply call for restrictions on the use of bird nets without presenting effective alternatives to bird nets to prevent feeding damage or compensation for damage. I have to say.

Once again, damage to lotus root by wild birds is a matter of life and death for lotus root farmers. Bird-prevention nets are not a problem that can be solved simply by thinking of them as harmful.

Investigate the cause of the accident

Up until now, investigations into "ramou" accidents have been limited to determining the number of netting birds; in-depth investigation and research into the causes of the accidents have hardly been conducted.

It is impossible to understand the occurrence situation through observation

There have been many attempts to confirm the occurrence of traffic accidents through "observation," but this is like predicting and waiting for a traffic accident to occur.It is extremely difficult to actually observe wild birds roaming.

Because we have adopted unreasonable investigation and research methods, we have not been able to elucidate the cause of the "ramou" accident.

Exploring the involvement of bird control nets in the "Ramou" accident

It is clear that bird netting is the cause of wild bird netting accidents.

However, perhaps because emphasis was placed on understanding the occurrence situation through observation, the involvement of bird prevention nets in the Luo-ami accident can be summarized in one word: "Wild birds get caught in the nets.'' It has been dismissed and has not been the subject of any investigation or research.

This project started by investigating the involvement of bird control nets in "ramou" accidents and determining the cause of the accidents.