Japan marked World Albatross Day this year with a three-week exhibition

A view of Japan's World Albatross Day 2025 exhibition in the Nature Centre of the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

This year World Albatross Day & Seabird Week in Japan featured a rich lineup of interactive, artistic, and educational activities—from a bird‑watching tour and expert lectures to immersive visual exhibits—all aimed at raising awareness and promoting seabird conservation.  The event took place over 14-20 July 2025 at the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, with the exhibition continuing for two additional weeks until 6 July.

Searching for Little Terns on the field outing

On 14 June, a birdwatching tour was held at the Morisaki Water Reclamation Center rooftop in Tokyo, where an artificial nesting site for Little Terns Sternula albifrons has been established.  Organized by the NPO Little Tern Project, the event brought together 50 participants.  They observed the terns as well as Asian House Martins Delichon dasypus and Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius at the site.  Following the tour, those who wished to continue joined a visit to the exhibition at Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, where Professor Hiroshi Hasegawa provided an in-depth explanation of the displays and of ongoing seabird conservation efforts.

Hiroshi Hasegawa lectures on the Short-tailed Albatross

On 15 June, a hybrid lecture event was held with 40 people attending in person, and over 60 participated online.  The programme began with a presentation by Hiroshi on a review of Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus surveys, followed by five additional talks covering topics such as monitoring of Short-tailed Albatross colonies, decoy-based conservation, Little Tern population surveys, needle-felt art of seabirds and seabird photography.  A Q&A session wrapped up the day, offering attendees the chance to engage with all the speakers.

Japanese language versions of ACAP Infographics for the three North Pacific albatrosses on display were sponsored by the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology

The three-week exhibition featured a wide range of displays, including a life-sized tapestry of the Short-tailed Albatross, photographs of the species taken in Japan, an albatross decoy used for the conservation effort, and seabird-themed artworks, including needle-felt creations.  Visitors could also enjoy a picture story show, view videos on seabird research and fisheries bycatch issues, along with posters introducing seabird conservation efforts from across Japan, with a focus on threaten ed species. During the exhibition period, the venue received an estimated 970 visitors.

A similar three-week event was held to mark World Albatross Day on 19 June in Tokyo in 2024 (click here).

With thanks to the World Albatross Day & Seabird Week Events Committee for the text and photographs.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 11 August 2026