Welcome To the Godwits.- Giving the Birds a Voice!

A great fun event today at Ngataringa Bay to welcome the arrival of the bar-tailed godwits to Shoal and Ngataringa Bays for our Summer.Great to see so many people and children too.

This event was organised by the local community, a coalition of various groups concerned about the threats to the Bayswater Environment from large scale developments plans for around this DOC designated,  Site of Significant Wildlife  Interest  (SSWI).

Development plans risk sedimentation into the estuary as has happened at the Okura estuary North of Shoal and Ngataringa estuaries. .

Following the Mihi by Danny Watson. The Devonport Druid continues the Godwit story.

The aim of the event was to welcome the bar-tailed godwit that began arriving from Alaska on September the 12th after their 11.500 kilometre flight and to highlight this local fragile environment and the risks to roosting (resting) birds using the Chenier shell banks.

Danny Watson, Philip and the Devonport Druid.

 This particular shell bank was missed off the Auckland Unitary Plan overlays and we have asked Auckland Council for its addition with an  SEA Marine 1 status.

 Today there are 219 godwit roosting (resting) on the shell bank at high tide. These numbers should increase  to nearly 300.

 A big thankyou to the organisers and helpers. A special thanks to Iain, Danny L and Steve for the heavy lifting to the site and thinking things through. Trish for supervising the young fledglings.  Thanks to Helene and the Forest & Bird Team. A grateful thanks to Oonah Caldwell for letting us use her section. A Huge thankyou to Danny Watson and the Druid.

A really important thankyou to Anna Baine, our very supportive Council Ranger for supplying the food courtesy of Auckland Council. And finally a special thankyou to all those members of the community that supported this event, not forgetting the Flagstaff for advanced successful advertising  and support.