Flyway Children's Exchange Program Phase 1, 2nd Session
The second session of the “Flyway Children's Exchange Program Phase 1”
was held on March 2, 2025, in Okinawa as the main venue.
A total of 18 children participated: 4 from Fukuoka, 2 from Yatsushiro,
5 from Okinawa, and 7 from Ganghwa.
In the second session, the Okinawan children introduced the wetlands.
After the introduction of the wetlands, the children asked each other questions
about their favorite creatures, hobbies, daily life, and other topics of interest to them.
They also taught each other how to call the “Black-Faced Spoonbills” in their respective areas.
Introduction of Manko Wetland
The children introduced Manko, a wetland straddling Naha City and Tomigusuku City in Okinawa Prefecture, via a live broadcast from the site.
Manko, Okinawa
This approximately 58ha tidal estuary spans across Naha City and Tomigusuku City. It is located at the confluence of Kokuba River and Noha River. The tidal flat appears with the change in tides, and it coexists with diverse environments such as mangrove forests, reedbeds, and brackish water.
Designated as a Ramsar site in 1999, endangered species such as BFS and Saunder’s gull have been spotted in Manko. Located within the city, it is also used as a place for relaxation and recreation by the locals.
Questions for each other
We gathered questions from participants beforehand, and sorted them by region. From them, each venue decided on which question to ask. Various questions like about organisms or food were asked. Due to time restrictions, we had the children answer the questions that couldn’t be answered in the sessions, and shared the answers afterwards.
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Introducing Okinawa’ｓ local foods and "Sanshin a traditional instrument
How do we call Black-Faced Spoonbills
The children taught each other what BFS is called in their region. We learned that BFS is called “Jeo-eo-sae” in Ganghwa, “Kurotsura-herasagi” in Fukuoka and Yatsushiro, and “Kuro-ibirasāji” in Okinawa. We also learned their meanings, and pronounced each of them together.
"Jeo-eo-sae"(Ganghwa)
Named from BFS shaking its bill
"Kurotsura-herasagi"
(Fukuoka & Yatsushiro)
A heron with a black face and
a rice paddle
"Kuro-ibira-sāji"(Okinawa)
A heron with a large black rice
paddle
