Thousands of migratory swans arrive at lake in Hokkaido

Thousands of swans have arrived at an internationally recognized wetland on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

The birds spent the winter on Japan's main island of Honshu and elsewhere and are now being seen at Kutcharo-ko in the town of Hamatonbetsu. The lake is registered under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty that promotes the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

The Hamatombetsu Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observatory said the number of swans has been increasing since the start of April. It says about 2,000 tundra swans and whooper swans were confirmed to have arrived as of Tuesday. The birds are expected to begin leaving for their breeding grounds in Russia in early May.