Black-tailed Gulls @ Kabushima

Black-tailed Gulls @ Kabushima①

Kabushima is designated as a national natural monument for being a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls. And although it’s called an "island," it’s actually connected to the mainland—just about a 15-minute walk from Samé Station. As we walked through the sweltering heat, the torii gate of Kabushima Shrine (whose grounds encompass the entire island) came into view in the distance. And even though we were still quite far from Kabushima, a massive chorus of black-tailed gulls was already resounding! This chorus is actually selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Soundscapes of Japan."

Black-tailed Gulls @ Kabushima ②

With 30,000 to 40,000 black-tailed gulls packed onto a tiny island only about 800 meters in perimeter, the place is covered in droppings—there’s practically nowhere to step! Because the gulls swooping through the sky shower you with droppings, clear plastic umbrellas are available for rent at the entrance to the shrine’s stone steps for protection.

Yet, despite their high spirits (perhaps a bit too high), these gulls are decreasing in number due to various factors like climate change. In the 5th Red List published by Japan's Ministry of the Environment in March 2026, the black-tailed gull was newly designated as Vulnerable (VU)—a species facing an increasing risk of extinction.

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