Watch migratory birds head north for winter

Members of the Manawatu¯ Estuary Trust will gather at the estuary on Saturday March 14 to farewell the departing migratory birds.

They will be meeting at 1.30pm (before the high tide at 2.15pm) at the viewing platform, Dawick Street (off Seabury Avenue) in Foxton Beach.

Dr Phil Battley, a Massey University ecologist and coordinator for the international study of migratory birds has will be there.

Within a few days of March 14, the autumn equinox will be here.

It’s also the time for the annual event of Hekenga: Ko te hekenga nui o nga manu/ it is the great journey of the birds.

Migration of some of the wading birds will have been going on for about a week.

No-one can tell if or when the birds are ready to make their departure from the estuary in small flocks. One can only observe their agitation and hear their calls signalling their preparation for the event. Departures usually occur, weather dependent.

The Bar tailed godwits, Kuaka, depart to return to Alaska to breed. The lesser or red knot, Huahou, another summer visitor will return to breeding grounds in Siberia.

The sandspit is also a gathering area for the wrybill, one of the threatened native species that relies on the Manawatu¯ estuary as a feeding ground.

These little fellows can be spotted easily using the spotting scopes which will be made available. There is a good chance to see a flock of these special birds at this time.

Viewing and photographic opportunities present themselves uniquely well because of the access and close proximity to their gathering points.