Hi, this is Yukky.
I went to the “Mitsubishi Electric Outdoor Class @ Ichikawa Wild Bird Sanctuary”!
The Ichikawa Wild Bird Sanctuary is located within the Gyotoku Wildlife Protection Area, and it’s normally not accessible to the public.
This time, we had the chance to enter and observe the wildlife there—so I decided to join in.
We were each given a magnifying glass for observation, and staff from Mitsubishi Electric provided explanations about the plants and animals living in the sanctuary.
We saw ladybugs eating aphids, and I finally learned what those bubbles on plants I’d always wondered about were.
It turns out they’re made by a kind of insect called froghoppers, which are related to stink bugs.
The bubbles are actually a surfactant produced by the froghopper… I learned something new!
We also learned how to tell the difference between Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane) and Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane), and we got to taste-test wild fruits like mock strawberries and mulberries.
Since the area is normally closed off to people, there’s no risk of trampling or pesticide use—so we could enjoy the fruit without worry!
(For the record, the mock strawberries had no flavor… but the mulberries were delicious.)
We also encountered a Red-ringed Commander butterfly feeding on tree sap.
It was so focused on drinking that even when I got up close with my camera, it didn’t fly away—I was able to get a nice photo easily.
It was over 30°C that day, so it was quite hot, but thanks to tea breaks in between, we were able to take our time and enjoy observing everything.
It was a lot of fun!
