Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary, Osaka

The Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary covers an area of 19.3 hectares and forms part of an artificial tidal flat. It is located on the Sakishima Landfill in Osaka Bay.

The Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary was established by the efforts of bird lovers who influenced the City Government to convert the Sakishima Landfill into a bird sanctuary. Osaka Bay had wetlands that were the favorite destination of many species of migratory birds. The wetlands were destroyed by the coastal development that took place after World War II. Bird lovers noticed that migratory birds soon returned to the wetland like environment created by the Shakisima landfill and in 1983 the area officially became a bird sanctuary.

The Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary becomes the temporary home of over 236 migratory birds. It also hosts 51 species of shorebirds. Notable migratory birds are the Plover, the Spoon Billed Sandpiper and the Spotted Greenshank. Visitors can walk through the Green path and hear the chirping of the different birds in the sanctuary or climb the hills inside the sanctuary to get a spectacular view across the bay. There is also an observation area where one can see the different types of shore birds that live here. Visitors need to check the ebb tide timings before coming to the sanctuary to get a better view of the tidal flat.