JP154Koshikijima islands

Site Description

Coastline; Forest

Koshikijima islands, which are located in the west of Kushikino City, consist of three big islands Kamikoshikijima, Nakakoshikijima and Shimo koshikijima and some islets.

They have deeply indented coastlines and have well developed abrasion cliffs which are 100 m high on the west coast. In Kamikoshikijima island, the village lies on a tombolo (a sandbank which connects to the land). There are four lagoons inside the sandbank of Nagamenohama on Kamikoshikijima island.

The northern part of Shimokoshikijima is narrow and on its abrasion cliffs, Japan's southernmost breeding site of Black-tailed Gulls can be seen. The island has Mt. Odake with an altitude of 604 m, other mountains (400-500m high) and few flat fields.

Area & Coordinates

11,910ha 31°50′N 129°53′E
region: Kyushu Region, Kagoshima

Designation Type

Prefectural National Park, Wildlife Protection Area (Local)

Protection Status

Partially protected

Conservation issues

Recreation/tourism
Consequences of animal/plants/ introductions

Birds

Breeding resident

Calonectris leucomelas, Sula leucogaster, Egretta sacra, Pandion haliaetus, Falco peregrinus, Columba janthina, Monticola solitarius, Parus varius, Zosterops japonicus

Breeding visitor

Larus crassirostris, Cuculus poliocephalus, Ninox scutulata, Apus pacificus, Locustella pleskei, Synthliboramphus wumizusume

Winter visitor

Phalacrocorax capillatus

Passage visitor

Ardeola bacchus, Accipiter soloensis, Butastur indicus, Pernis apivorus