Birds of the Kamo River

 

During my stays in Kyoto in 2005-2006 with JSPS fellowships, I redeveloped an interest in nature photography. I have been a film photographer for many years, especially in connection with macrophotography for the illustrations of my publications, and switched to digital photography in 2000 (also in connection with one of my visits in Japan). However, the digital cameras I could afford at that time were not suitable for nature photography, and it was only in 2005 that I could assemble enough camera equipment to obtain the results I wanted.

I did not have a specific interest in bird photography until moving to Kyoto, which turns out to be one of the best bird-watching spots for water-fowl in Japan, especially along the Kamo River that crosses the city. Since I was living a four-minute walk from the river, I could take my camera backpack there almost every day.

The banks of the Kamo and, to a lesser extent, Takano Rivers are one of the favourite picnic, fishing and walking spots in Kyoto. During the summer, university students are partying near the confluence of the Kamo and Takano Rivers almost every evening. This is also a favourite spot for hanami in the spring.

The river banks are much less frequented during the autumn and winter, but even in these seasons the birds are used to the presence of people, and much easier to approach than ordinary in the wild. The birds are also used to be fed, and some seem to have developed special relationships with people. I have seen one large aosagi (grey heron), normally shy during the day, come to eat dinner with homeless people living under one of the bridges in the evenings. The birds are not, however, domestic or restricted in their movements, and several species migrate north or south with the changing seasons.