Matthew
Rosenberg17:16, Sep 11 2018
Fears for
godwit's future at Auckland estuary
The
record-breaking bird may have to look for a new feeding spot.
A tiny
bird renowned for its record-breaking 29,000 kilometre migration has more to
worry about than surviving its epic return trip to Alaska, Forest and Bird
says.
Every
year, the bar-tailed godwit flies to the northern hemisphere for breeding
before returning to New Zealand at the start of spring.
The birds
have started arriving at Miranda, on the Firth of Thames, and are due to land
in Auckland in the next six weeks.
But
Forest and Bird is concerned large-scale developments at the edge of a North
Shore estuary could create sediment issues at a popular feeding spot.
"[With]
increased sedimentation, the risk is it smothers the food these birds rely
on," Forest and Bird North Shore committee member Philip Moll said.
When
godwits arrive back in New Zealand after their nine-day non-stop flight from
Alaska, they're often ragged, hungry and keen to refuel at a local estuary.
"The
only reason they [godwits] are here is for food . . . If you took away their
food, then they're gone."
Construction
close to the estuary includes two large developments – 269
apartments as part of a Ryman retirement village in Devonport, and a 350-strong
housing development called the Hillary Block, just around the corner.
However,
both have stringent controls in place.
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