RETURN OF GODWITS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28420, 29 October 1957, Page 15

RETURN OF GODWITS

12,,000-Mile Flight

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, October 28.

One of New Zealand’s bestknown migrants, the godwit, has returned' with the spring to the Bay of Plenty and other parts of the North Island coastline. Each year these graceful, powerful fliers with the characteristic bent bill make an annual flight of 12,000 miles—following the summer into each hemisphere, 6000 miles each way.

Nesting in the Arctic spring and summer, they fly south from the northern autumn, reaching New Zealand in late September and early October. In flight, the migrations are a great delta of birds, heading south from Siberia and Alaska to feeding grounds on the other side of the world.

In New Zealand for five months of the year, the godwit spends most of its time on the ground, steadily probing along the shores and estuaries for the tiny crabs and shell fish, or marine worms which form its diet. The long, flexible bill darts and rakes through estuary mud in search of food to build its strength for the return flight over 6000 miles of the Pacific.

A favourite resting-place for godwits near Wellington, is Farewell Spit. Seen mostly in groups of about 30 birds, they have been estimated to number 200,000 throughout New Zealand. Their numbers are likely to continue growing, as in spite of the efforts of hunters, the godwits have been protected birds for the last 16 years.