Winter Birding in Hokkaido

Photograph by Alyce Bender

November’s general Audubon meeting featured Alyce Bender sharing her birding and photography experiences in Hokkaido. Year after year, Bender (as she prefers to be called) returns to the brutally cold, yet spectacular backdrop, of Japan’s northern most island to view and photograph a variety of wildlife. Most notably the Red-crowned Crane, among the rarest cranes in the world, can be found performing a rhythmic dance of courtship. As Bender so passionately relayed to the group, “The reason this Florida born girl goes to Japan in the dead of winter is to see a beautiful dance in the wild that is worthy to be seen on Broadway."

​Bender aims to connect people to the planet through the images she captures, and she discussed the importance of ethical behavioral when photographing wildlife.

Photograph by Alyce Bender

The Steller’s Sea Eagle, a vulnerable species, can also be found wintering in Hokkaido. Bender marvels on what its breeding range must be like that it’s better to winter in freezing temperatures of Hokkaido.

The Hokkaido area, while having harsh winters, still attracts a variety of avian species. Bender shared images of White-tailed Eagles, Short-eared Owls, Wild-whooper Swans, Black-eared Kites, Large-billed Crows, and added in species of the four-legged kind by way of Ezo Red Foxes and Yezo Sika Deer.

It was exciting to meet someone with Bender's talents and passion. Her website abenderphotography.com offers additional images of her wildlife encounters and photo adventures that she offers.

Written by Jennifer Dudek