DNP Tamura Plastics Co., Ltd. (located in Aichi Prefecture), a group company of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), manufactures side visors for automobiles and screens for motorcycles. The company received a letter of appreciation from the Japan Bird Watching Association for watching over swallows at their Hagiwara plant in Gifu Prefecture.
On Friday, June 14, 2024, Mr. Yasuhiro Ito, representing the Japan Bird Watching Association Gifu, visited the Hagiwara plant to award a letter of appreciation. The plant manager, Masatsugu Hoshino, received the letter of appreciation.
Mr. Ito (front row, left) with the plant manager Hoshino (second from left in the front row) and employees of DNP Tamura Plastics
Monitoring of the swallows at the Hagiwara plant
In June 2023, swallows flew to the Hagiwara plant and started making a nest under the eaves of the main entrance. The employees of the plant set up a board to facilitate nest building by the birds. After the swallows finished building their nest and laid eggs successfully, a poster was put up under the nest to inform visitors that the swallows were raising their young. The employees took turns monitoring the swallows and recording their behavior until the three young birds left the nest.
The appearance of the board set up for the nest (left) and the poster informing about the swallow raising young (right)
Letter of appreciation presented by the Japan Bird Watching Association for monitoring the swallows
In Japan, it has long been believed that having swallows build nests on the eaves of homes or buildings is auspicious. Additionally, swallows are considered beneficial birds because they eat insects. However, in recent years, there have been cases where nests have been removed for reasons such as uncleanliness. In response to this situation, the Japan Bird Watching Association has been presenting letters of appreciation since 2019 to companies and organizations that monitor swallow nests and habitats, with the aim of promoting positive awareness of coexistence between swallows and people in society.
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