Farmer referred to prosecutors for killing protected crane

This is a very Japanese thing. Man kills what he appears to know is a protected species and calls the police on himself. He could have easily disposed of the bird and gone on with life. I hope the prosecutors give him credit for that.

I think the point is that he wasn't aiming to hit anything, just to scare the birds off.

I'd accept his claim that he didn't mean to do it. 

I wouldn't. As someone who formerly hunted, it's not that easy to shoot a bird once, much less twice. Much less with an inaccurate airgun. It's also in his interest to claim it was an accident.

It's only easy if the birds are just standing there and he is fairly close. In which case, it would be hard to claim it was an accident.

but perfectly legal to beat the crap out of dolphins with a baseball bat

There are a number of passive and active bird repellent solutions which will cost much less than the ¥1Meg he claims in loss. If he's in the country, a small gas powered sound cannon might be the way, for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPNdlhdL2B0

And many passive visual solutions, as well.

Do these cranes mate for life?

I guess they were about to walk into his field as he’d need to be a decent shot to hit a flying crane twice with a air rifle. Although he was obviously in the wrong why charge him when he reported it? Next time he’ll chuck it in the river rather than report it.

Was he an Olympic shooter?

I was a state champion in Australia at shooting… hitting a flying crane twice with a single shot air gun… exceptional skills.

As mentioned above, plenty of non lethal ways to scare off birds that don’t cost very much.

(never seen a multi-shot air gun at the local club here, but could be possible but at they legal in Japan)

Karma dictates the farmer will come back as an air gun pellet

Or as a bird.

he’d need to be a decent shot to hit a flying crane twice with a air rifle

I think the point is that he wasn't aiming to hit anything, just to scare the birds off.

I'd accept his claim that he didn't mean to do it. I'd also confiscate his gun, since he's shown that he's not safe walking about with a loaded weapon. Could be local kids next time.

We very occasionally see cranes in these parts. They seem very dainty, on their long thin legs. Hard to imagine them stomping on anything, though I suppose they are quite big....

He could put out bird repellants, scarecrows, etc., that would keep the birds away and keep him from accidentally shooting anything/anyone else.

I use old CDs strung about the place; the flashing as they twist in the sunlight keeps the pigeons and ravens at bay. Dunno if they'd deter cranes.

We have a problem here in US with Canada Geese, damaging crops along river. Too many, too little native food for them. Propane cannon for noise to scare won't work. Need to trap and move or harvest more thru season. That crane should have been trapped and moved .

The man told Kyodo News he saw cranes that were about to enter his field and fired five shots to scare them away, but found one crane lying on the ground and reported to the police.

The crane had been hit by two bullets, the sources said.

Clearly the guy is lying, air guns dont make much noise at all so firing warning shots would be likely useless as warnings.

Clearly he was shooting AT the birds & somehow managed to kill one, as a pellet gun likely would hurt birds too badly unless they were shot in the head.......

The article also mentions bullets, so was he using a pellet gun or a rifle.....either way they guy screwed up

Cranes are edible so he could have saved himself an indictment by eating the murdered bird rather than informing the police of his crime. Urp!

We have a problem here in US with Canada Geese, damaging crops along river.

Very American: "Blame Canada"

God forbid that his onions get stomped

In doubt of course for our human being fellow. If he can’t sell his few onions he is endangered too, especially in rural cold winter Hokkaido. He wouldn’t care at all in case of being a rich farmer or having the possibility to sell other products or to raise the prices for onions a little bit. I guess the big buyers and markets already showed him the exit when he asked for getting some yen more for his veggies. lol That’s why he probably had no other way to act.

Karma dictates the farmer will come back as an air gun pellet

If you're not vegan, karma dictates you come back as food stock.

Rest in Peace Crano.

Throw the book at him. Tough guy with a gun trying to protect his onions being "trampled" by a critically endangered bird.

Give up the farming, and your airgun.