Story: Estuaries

Godwits and oystercatchers, Manukau Harbour

Godwits and oystercatchers, Manukau Harbour

Kūaka or eastern bar-tailed godwits, and torea, the South Island pied oystercatchers, are common wading birds, often seen in estuaries throughout New Zealand. In early summer, flocks of bar-tailed godwits arrive from Siberia and arctic North America, feeding in New Zealand’s muddy estuaries until autumn, when they depart again. South Island pied oystercatchers breed in inland areas of the South Island during spring and early summer. They spread to estuaries throughout the country in late summer and feed there until August.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10036073
Photograph by Dick Veitch

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Estuaries - Larger animals of the estuary', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4638/godwits-and-oystercatchers-manukau-harbour (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006