Bay Harbour: February 24, 2021

14 Bay Harbour News Wednesday February 24 2021 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
ESTUARY MATTERS
Event planned to farewell Godwits
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust is a
non-profit organisation formed to protect one of
New Zealand’s most important coastal wetlands.
Each week, board members will discuss matters
regarding the estuary, its rich history and what
makes it unique. This week Tanya Jenkins writes
about an event to commemorate the departure
of the godwits
FAREWELL TO the amazing
godwit birds who will soon be
leaving for Alaska.
In September each year as
many as 2000 godwits birds fly
non-stop from their breeding
grounds in Alaska to spend
summer here with us.
This journey is 12,000km and
takes eight days and nights.
But it is time to say farewell
as they will soon depart again
to return to Alaska for another
breeding season. Right now, they
are feeding as much and fast as
they possibly can to gain enough
weight to survive the long journey
back.
The males will have to make
an extra effort to produce their
stunning golden brown “breeding
plumage” in time for the
departure.
This is a vital time for us to
ensure our dogs are always on
a lead when walking along the
estuary edge as not to disturb
them.
Research has shown that every
time birds are disturbed it takes
approximately 40min of nervous
flying around before they feel
safe enough to settle and continue
to feed.
If this happens several times a
day they are at risk of not being
able to gain enough energy to
complete the 14,000km journey
back. Yes, it’s even longer than
when they return as they fly back
via the Yellow Sea for one stop to
top up on food before the last leg.
The Estuary Trust together
with the city council commemorates
this amazing annual feat
this year on Sunday. You are
warmly invited to join a gathering
at South Shore Spit Reserve
(end of Rockinghorse Rd).
From 5.30pm there will be
a free sausage sizzle and drink
stall, live music and free “paint
a godwit garden ornament ” for
children to take home.
The Estuary Trust will have an
information stall to answer any
questions you have on the godwit
and “everything estuary.”
At 6pm, councillor James
Daniels will provide a karakia
before our Mayor Lianne Dalziel
welcomes us.
City council park ranger
Andrew Crossland will provide
us with facts and figures of the
godwits before we are taken on
a guided walk to view the birds
up close.
Parking will be available or
take the No 60 Bus that leaves
every 30min from the Bus
Exchange.
FAREWELL:
Hundreds of
godwits travel
across the globe
each year to spend
their summer at
South Shore Spit.
They will soon
depart and return
to Alaska.
PHOTO: CLIVE
COLLINS ​