The Miyajima Ropeway is a direct way to the miracle spots “Mt. Misen” enjoyed by God naturally.     * Photo credit: Furnished by Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden Attached to Hiroshima University Graduate School of Science * Photo by KumagayaYoshito Miyajima is a treasure house of wild birds. It is said rather unusual nationwide to be able to observe almost all of the birds living in waterside, city area and mountainous district within a small island 30 km around. The reason being the existence of the primeval forest preserved intact with the natural environments ideal for the habitat of birds. Foods such as nuts and insects, in addition to roosts, are all blessings of affluent nature. Aegithalos caudatus (Long-tailed Tit) Parus varius (Varied Tit) Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Blue-and-White Flycatcher) Ficedula narcissina (Narcissus Flycatcher) ●Resident birds Typified by Parus varius（Varied Tit）, Parus major (Great Tit), Aegithalos caudatus (Long-tailed Tit), etc. Parus montanus (Willow Tit), Dendrocopos major (Great Spotted Woodpecker), and Japanese Woodpecker belonging to the woodpecker family are also observed. ●Summer Residents Cyanoptila cyanomelana（Blue-and-White Flycatcher）, Ficedula narcissina （Narcissus Flycatcher）, etc., will come from overseas around April. After the breeding season, birds live in lowland before departing in the end of October. Muscicapa griseisticta (Grey-streaked Flycatcher) Saxicola torguata (Common Stonechat) Phoenicurus auroreus (Daurian Redstart) Tarsiger cyanurus (Red-flanked Bluetail) ●Migratory Birds Pernis ptilorhyncus (Oriental Honey Buzzard), Falco subbuteo (Eurasian Hobby), etc., lived in north of Honshu fly over Misen to go to warm countries in the beginning of October. In addition, in the month end, Muscicapa griseisticta (Grey-streaked Flycatcher), Saxicola torguata (Common Stonechat), Erithacus akahige (Japanese Robin), etc., take a rest at Misen on their way to the next countries. ●Winter Residents In the end of October, Turdus naumanni (Dusky Thrush), Phoenicurus auroreus (Daurian Redstart), Tarsiger cyanurus (Red-flanked Bluetail), Regulus regulus (Goldcrest), and many other winter residents come from abroad.       ●Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda) The flower of Miyajima-cho known as Andromeda (asebi). Because being poisonous for ruminants, it is immune from feeding damage by deer, thereby becoming ubiquitous all over the island of Miyajima. ●Prunus jamasakura (Japanese Cherry) Distributed throughout southern Japanese Peninsula in low mountain areas, growing into considerably large trees. A sort of conservative elegance provides an alternative to the gorgeousness of Someiyoshino. ●Rhododendron obtusum (Mountain Azalea) Blooms from the end of April to the middle of July. It was seen among fresh green along trails up the mountain. Its transparent red color shines more brightly giving beautiful accent.       ●Paederia scandens (Kobanohekusokazura) A small race of Paederia Scandens discovered in 1928 by a Doctor of Tokyo University who visited Misen. Many plants in Miyajima are smaller in size compared with the colleagues of other areas, thereby attracting interests of researchers. ●Lilium formosanum (Takasago Yuri) Takasago is the name of the country of origin in Taiwan; Taiwan Lily in another name. It resembles Lilium Longiflorum（Easter Lily） if the shape of flower alone is seen, but different in that it has thin leaves. ●Symplocaceae (Kanzaburounoki) White flowers bear black fruits. Widely distributed in the southern part of Japanese Peninsula but rarely glows along the coasts of Inland Sea. In Misen, observed not a few in a valley not higher than 300 meters in altitude. * Photo credit: Furnished by Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden Attached to Hiroshima University Graduate School of Science. * Photo by Shinji Mukai