Heralds of Spring.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20441, 20 October 1934, Page 10

Heralds of Spring.

Nature Notes.

By James Drummond, F.L.S.. F.Z.S.

BETWEEN 4 p.m. and 6 pin. on Sep-

tember 7, Mr A. Cliffe was pleased, to see god wits arrive at Dargaville. after their journey from their Siberian homes. " They came in hundreds,” he wrote. “ They were in wonderful formation. After circling several times, they broke up into three groups. One group headed north towards Ninety-mile Beach, one to Kaipara Harbour, tlfr2 third to the south. This is the earliest arrival I have known for manv years. There is a belief that the godwits’ early arrival in New Zealand predicts an early spring.”

October and November are the usual months of arrival, for the main bodies at least. March and April are the usual months of departure. Godwits are persistent in their wonderful migrations, but they do not always observe the time-table strictly. Many individuals miss the outward journey, spending the winter in New Zealand. It is presumed that they pick up the migration north the following autumn.

Godwits are shore-birds. They favour tidal mudflats, sandflats, and lagoons near the coast, particularly in North Auckland, but Dr W. R. B. Oliver has noted that during storms they seek shelter inland and behind sand-dunes. Partial albino godwits have been seen. A perfect albino, pure white, is a highly valued possession of Auckland Museum.