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Let's enjoy bird watching in the center of Greater Tokyo

About the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

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The park sits along the edge of the Port of Tokyo, with ponds that are connected to the sea and influenced by the tides. Within the park, there is a nice diversity of habitats such as saltwater and freshwater ponds, streams, forests, and grassy fields. Annually, as many as 200 species of birds use the park, from shorebirds, ducks and goshawks to many songbirds. Many other organisms use the tidal flats as well—crabs, insects, other invertebrates and even mudskippers. It is also an ideal location for kids to observe insects that live in the forest and in the grasslands.

There is an open field with well-maintained tables and benches for families that want to picnic while taking a break and relaxing. There are also a variety of events on the weekends to attract visitors. Usually services are available only for Japanese speakers, but on some occasions bilingual programs are also conducted.

History of the Park

The Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park (formerly Oi Bird Park) was established in October 1989. Originally, the park was covered by water as part of Tokyo Bay, but it was filled in by the City of Tokyo in order to establish the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, better known as the Ota Market.
The reclaimed land project was started in the 1960s, and soon after, rainwater accumulated in ponds, and natural grasslands became an attraction for wild birds. People came to see the birds and desired to protect the natural areas, so the local citizens fought to conserve the park for future generations. The Ota Market retained 38.6 hectares of land, and the park was able to protect 24.9 hectares of wetlands and forested areas.
On June 17, 2000, the park became part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network (http://www.eaaflyway.net/about/the-partnership/national-partnership/japan) with the mission to provide habitat for plovers, sandpipers and other shorebirds. It has joined a network of such places that make up an important international flyway for migratory shorebirds.

     
 Photo of the area in 1971   Photo of the area in 1971   Oi Bird Park in 1978

Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

〒 143-0001
3-1 Tokai Ota-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan
TEL: 03-3799-5031
E-mail: yachokouen at wbsj.org

The Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park is one of the “Marine Parks” which are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Port and Harbor, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The Park is managed by two organizations working in partnership – the Tokyo Port Terminal Corporation and the Wild Bird Society of Japan and manage the park as the designated administrator with the cooperation of the NPO Tokyo Port Green Volunteers and the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park Volunteer Guides.