Streaked Shearwater and Japanese Cormorant Breeding Ground of Awashima

The streaked shearwater is a long-winged seabird that spends most of its life at sea, coming ashore on islands during the breeding season to nest in burrows. It returns to its colony at night, making distinctive calls. It breeds on islands from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and some important breeding sites, including sites in Iwate, Niigata, Kyoto, Shimane and Okinawa, are designated Natural Monuments.

A large seabird with glossy black plumage that nests on rocky coasts and islands and dives for fish. It has also been used in traditional cormorant fishing. Many of its breeding and visiting sites around Japan are Natural Monuments.