Blakiston's Fish Owl, Bubo blakistoni, is a fish owl, a sub-group of eagle owls who specialised in hunting riparian areas. This bird is endangered due to the widespread loss of riverine forest, increasing development along rivers and dam construction. The current population in Japan is approximately 100-150 birds (20 breeding pairs and unpaired individuals), whereas on mainland Asia the population is much higher, perhaps several thousand individuals.