Which birds appear when — a species × month occurrence heatmap
Sort Button (above the table)
The top 5 species are marked with badges to the right of their names: 👑 (popular) 🔥 (this week) 📈 (this month). The current sort key is indicated by ●.
Month header buttons
Clicking a month column header re-sorts the list to show species most frequently recorded in that month. The ranking is based on heatmap intensity (relative value within each species); ties are broken by total photo count. For example, clicking "January" brings the species most commonly recorded in January to the top.
Area selection
Use the dropdown at the top of the page to switch areas. The statistics will be recalculated using only photos taken within that area, letting you check occurrence trends for each location — Ishigaki Island, Yonaguni Island, Okinawa Main Island, and more.
Clicking a species name or cell
'Clicking a species name or a heatmap cell takes you to that species\' detail page, which includes a monthly chart and a map of where it was photographed.'
This heatmap aggregates approximately 18 years of observation data recorded since around 2008. Using the date, time, and GPS information embedded in each photo, it calculates monthly occurrence trends for each species. Observations were conducted year-round, primarily on Okinawa Main Island, Ishigaki Island, and Yonaguni Island.
Because this dataset reflects the observations of a single person, shifts in personal interest and shooting style have influenced the data. For example, in the early days of recording I actively sought out Ruddy Kingfishers, Crested Serpent Eagles, terns, and owls, whereas now the focus has shifted toward establishing reliable identification methods for snipes. The fewer records a species has, the less reliable the statistics are. I also make a point of tracking species likely to interest visiting birdwatchers from outside the islands, but please treat this data as a general guide rather than a definitive reference.
'Thanks to their subtropical ecosystems and geographic location, Ishigaki Island, Yonaguni Island, and Okinawa Main Island are vital stopover sites for migratory birds and rank among Japan\'s premier birdwatching destinations.
I hope this data helps you plan when and where to go to find the species you\'re looking for.'