After 12,000km flight, godwits arrive in Auckland bay to large-scale developments

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.

Continued  

Bar-tailed godwit (kuaka) crowned Bird of the Year

Monday, 26 October 2015, 11:01 am

Bar-tailed godwit (kuaka) crowned Bird of the Year

26 October 2015

The bar-tailed godwit (kuaka) has been crowned New Zealand's Bird of the Year after three weeks of close competition, heated campaigning and scandal.

These lunatic long-distance fliers have the longest migratory flight of any bird in the world, and travel over 11,000 kilometres from Alaska to reach New Zealand in less than 9 days.

Between 80,000 - 100,000 godwits begin arriving in the country from late September with most heading for the Kaipara and Manukau harbours, the Firth of Thames, Farewell Spit, and the Avon–Heathcote estuary.

Campaign manager for the bar-tailed godwit, Keith Woodley from the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, says the long flight takes its toll and birds will lose half their body weight during the trip.

"When they get here, they look absolutely exhausted. The first thing they do is have a drink to rehydrate and then they go to sleep. Eventually, they start feeding to make up for the huge amount of weight they lose during their flight." said Woodley.

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Savvy bar-tailed godwit equipped for climate challenge

The bird world's long-distance champion is probably savvy enough to cope with climate change, researchers believe.

The bar-tailed godwit makes the biggest no-stop migration, flying 11,000km from Alaska to New Zealand every autumn.

It relies on the right type of winds to make this epic journey - winds that computer models indicate could become less favourable in the future.

But scientists say the godwit's ability to judge weather conditions means it should rise to the challenge.

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