GODWITS’ EARLY ARRIVAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 7

GODWITS’ EARLY ARRIVAL

SPECTACULAR SIGHT FLIGHT OF EIGHT THOUSAND HUS FROM WILDS OF SIBERIA (By Telegraph' Special to “Times. AUCKLAND. August 29. The first godwite to arrive in K«w Zealand this season were seen in the far north last week. They are fully a month before their accustomed time, this being considered an indication el early spring. They usually arrive at the North Cape in October, and aome in September. They come all the way from Siberia, a distance of 7000 or 8000 miles. The first report of the arrival of the birds this year comes from Tehapua, on Parenga harbour, a short distance from North Cape. Small flocks averaging 100 or 200 in number were seen flying low over the harbour last Tuesday in the direction north to south. It is supposed they reached North Cape a day of two earlier, forming th< advance guard of birds which will soon follow in larger numbers. On Wednesday the birds were noticed for the first time at Houhora, feeding on the mud-gats in the estuary. They appear to be in exoellent condition. Residents say they have never previously known the birdß to arrive so early in the spring. Flocks of the birds usually continue to arrive at North Cape from October to December, and gradually spread south, even as far as Stewart Island.

READY FOR FLIGHT AGAIN In March of each year the birds begin to assemble on the north coast for tha return flight to Siberia. Unlike the manner of arrival their departure is taken in a single body, comprising many hundreds of thousands of birds. Tho way in which they rise from the ground, forming a triangular phalanx and flying away like a blade cloud, is said to be one of tha most wonderful sights in Nature. This migratory instinct in birds has always been much of a puzzle to scientists, but the theory that now finds general aooeptanoe is that the birds are following the line of sunken continents, traversing the route that was taken thousands of years ago. SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT In a paper read before the New Zealand Institute, Captain F. W. Hutton supposes migration to have commenced in the eocene period, when land stretched away to tfie north-west el New Zetland, almost to New Guinea, in a time when, although New Zealand was not actually joined to the mainland, it must have approached pretty close to it. The land sank by imperceptible stages. That would not be noticed in the lifetime of birds, and although tho gaps between the land widened as the centuries went by, they still kept up the custom of crossing strips of water, because they knew what lay beyond. Thus, it is concluded, have the godwita of to-day oome to possess what we call the migratory instinct.