Today was the Welcome to the Godwits event held at Sandy Bay Reserve. The event was initially started in October 2018 by an environmental group BEAC (Bayswater Environmental Action Coalition). It was then handed over to RTH (Restoring Takarunga Hauraki), a newly formed Restoration group at that time. RTH continue to annually host this successfully event.
This is a great opportunity to show residents and visitors these amazing bar-tailed godwit that have flown nearly 12,000 kms to spend the summer with us before heading back North to Alaska via China to breed. With high power scopes and binoculars, we are able to study the birds from the shoreline.
Estuaries across New Zealand attract different numbers of godwits depending on the availability of food to sustain the birds until they leave in March. We usually have a flock of around 200 each year including juvenile godwit that amazingly find their way unaided to our estuary.
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| Godwit Welcome in the sunshine 18. October 2026 |
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| A few short talks to share information about our visitors from Alaska |
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| Danny Watson, Philip & Chris. October 2018 Photo Jim Eagles. |