• Birdopolis: Visitors to Izumi's Crane Observation Center between mid-October and March can feast their eyes on some of around 10,000 overwintering cranes that arrive there on prevailing northerly winds from Siberia and northeastern China (left and below). Most of the birds, as here, comprise White-naped and smaller, dark Hooded cranes, although others such as Common, Sandhill, Siberian and Demoiselle species can also be seen. | MANDY BARTOK PHOTOS
    Birdopolis: Visitors to Izumi's Crane Observation Center between mid-October and March can feast their eyes on some of around 10,000 overwintering cranes that arrive there on prevailing northerly winds from Siberia and northeastern China (left and below). Most of the birds, as here, comprise White-naped and smaller, dark Hooded cranes, although others such as Common, Sandhill, Siberian and Demoiselle species can also be seen. | MANDY BARTOK PHOTOS
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My eyes have been carefully trained on the barren fields outside Izumi Crane Park Museum for at least 20 minutes, but I’ve yet to spot any of the locality’s most famous feathered friends.

It’s both laughable and more than a tad frustrating because, ever since I landed in this unassuming Kyushu city by the sea in northern Kagoshima Prefecture, I’ve seen images of the photogenic cranes everywhere — on posters, manhole covers, kitschy key chains, road signs and more.

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