Blakiston's Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni)
Blakiston's fish owl is a species of owl found in north-east Asia, including northern China, the Korean Penninsula, and the northern islands of Japan. They require large tracts of old-growth deciduous and mixed fores, and reside near fast moving waters, including rivers and coastlines, though during the winter they may settle for slower-moving creeks and lakes.
As their name implies, Blakiston's fish owl feeds mainly on fish, especially pike, trout, salmon, and catfish. In the winter B. blakistoni will also hunt for mammals such as martens, rodents, and bats; in the spring spring they will also readily prey on crayfish and frogs. Blakiston's fish owl hunts very similarly to other wading birds like herons; individuals will choose a perch close to the bank, or even stand directly in the shallows, and wait for prey to pass by before striking. They are active at both dusk and dawn, although they may be seen in daylight in their breeding season. Neither adults nor juveniles have any notable predators.
B. blakistoni breeds once every 2-3 years, typically when food is at its peak abundance. Courtship begins in January or February, and once a male and female are paired they remain together for most or all of their lives. After pairing, the couple chooses a hollow, and the female lays a clutch of 1-3 eggs around March. She remains responsible for brooding them, while the male brings her food, for the 35 days that the eggs take to hatch. Both parents continue to provide food until the fledgelings hatch, which takes about 7 weeks; the young typically remain in the area under the supervision of their parents for an additional year and a half. Individuals usually become fully mature at 3 years old, and may live anywhere from 8-15 years in the wild.
Blakiston's fish owls are noted as the largest owl species in the world. Adults can reach up to 4 kg (8.81 lb) in weight and nearly 2 m (6 ft 3 in) in wingspan. Adults are brown or tan in color, with brown streaking, and a white mask around the eyes and beak. They also have two long tufts of feathers much like horned owls.
Conservation status: B. blakistoni is considered Engangered by the IUCN. The main cause of decline is the disappearence of its habitat due to deforestation, damming, and river pollution. The Japanese population is estimated at 100-150 individuals, while the global population is estimated to be 1,000–1,500 individuals.
Photos
Jonathan C. Slaght
Bradley Hacker
Charlie Hesse
