NHK's popular nature program "Darwin Has Come!" (General) will air a segment titled "Raising a Child in the Dead of Winter!? The Secrets of Strange-Beaked Birds" on January 18th from 7:30 pm. The segment will feature the Japanese bush warbler, a bird with a strange appearance where the tips of its upper and lower beaks are crossed.
The Isuka's beak is specialized for prying open hard pine cones. It is a skill not found in other birds, allowing it to extract and eat the nutritious seeds inside. The Isuka lives in harmony with the pine trees, making full use of them for nesting sites and materials. However, it is said that this has brought with it a destiny.
They are an extremely eccentric breed that raises children in the middle of winter. Why does this happen? We uncover the secrets of this unique lifestyle on the Shimokita Peninsula during the harsh winter.
