Adult bar-tailed godwits arrive in New Zealand from late September to early October. After their 11,000-kilometre journey they are thin from fasting and from the enormous expenditure of energy. Worn, frayed flight feathers can be seen in this photo. By February they have fattened up and replaced their feathers with red breeding plumage, and by March or early April they are ready to leave.
Using this item
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10030915
Photograph by Dick Veitch
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about 20 godwits just turned
jakmai (not verified)
12 July 2010
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