Is it a bird? Is it a place? … actually, it’s both as the godwits return

18 September 2006

The godwits have arrived. The first flock of bar-tailed godwits returning from their northern hemisphere breeding grounds has been confirmed, at high tide this afternoon, by Christchurch City Council ranger, Andrew Crossland.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon, the city will celebrate with the bells of Christchurch Cathedral ringing out for half an hour. And a sky banner announcing the arrival will circle the central city.

“That’s one of the main points of this celebration,” states Ranger Crossland. ”Just 10 minutes from the central city the most incredible journey of any bird in the world has just been completed.”

This celebration is as much about the godwits as the environment that supports them. Christchurch is very fortunate and we are much more than daffodils and lambs in spring.

So far, a handful of godwits have arrived at the Avon Heathcote Estuary and, although more will arrive over the next days, after their breeding season in the Arctic circle … averaging 11,000km non-stop.

Morning Report announced the vote for New Zealand’s Bird of the Year this morning … quite timely for the first arrival of this wee bird to be clocked in New Zealand!

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