The Okinawa rail is a kind of water rail that does not have the ability to fly. In 1981, the discovery of this bird in Yambaru located in the northern part of the island of Okinawa was the first discovery of a new species of bird in Japan in 60 years. It lives near the forests in the northern part of the island of Okinawa. It is active during the day and sleeps in trees at night. It feeds on insects, snails, and earthworms. The breeding season is from April to August. It makes a shallow, plate shaped nest from dead leaves on slopes covered with ferns and bushes. There is concern about the decline in its numbers because its habitat has been reduced due to deforestation and also because it is threatened by predators such as cats, dogs, and mongooses.
Okinawa Rail (Gallirallus okinawae) This species only inhabits the mountains of the northern part of Okinawa. In addition to disappearance or division of its habitat by deforestation, the proliferation of mongooses, originally brought in to attack the habus, and wild dogs and cats, threatens the existence of the Okinawa rail to a degree that urgent measures are required.
If you know of any other endangered or rare plants or animals on Okinawa or the surrounding islands please send us what you know and pictures if possible. Thanks.
