In my last post I mentioned the Manawatu Estuary as a place I bird frequently. My parents bought a beach house on the river (in the small town of Foxton Beach) in 2016, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a world-renowned bird sanctuary on my doorstep.

In July 2005, the Manawatu Estuary was named the 149th site of Wetland Importance, in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Ramsar convention was signed in Iran in 1971, and since then 6 sites in New Zealand have been added. The Manawatu Estuary is the smallest of these, at 200 hectares. Regardless of its small size, there are 13 bird species living here year round, and nearly 100 species have been seen here.

This is the place where I have done the most birding. A quick walk from my front door leads me to the riverside, along a walking track and through the habitat of a number of birds. My first stop is usually where the road ends, and the walking track begins. A rocky shore with a small offshoot of fresh water lays beside it, where I frequently spot the beautiful White-Faced Heron. Our most common heron, they are well used to people and will continue to forage with me sitting on a nearby rock. Wading slowly through the shallows, they scan back and forth looking for prey to appear. Occasionally they thrust their long beak into the water, pulling out a small fish.

Across the small river from this is a sandy delta, which soon turns into native bush. I sometimes see harriers taking off from here, and have been chased away by territorial black-backed gulls. Coming here for sunrise, the sight of Bar-Tailed Godwits, Banded Dotterels, Spur-Winged Plovers, and Pied Stilt is beautiful as they begin to wake up.

The Bar-Tailed Godwit is one of the Manawatu Estuaries most remarkable birds. A world-traveller, their breeding grounds require an enormous journey from New Zealand, to either Siberia or Russia. This is done in one flight – the longest non-stop flight by any seabird. Over 8-9 days, they fly around 12,000 kilometres, without stopping for sleep, rest, or food.

As I watch these birds, I think about their travels. Making this trip twice a year (once each way) from the age of four months old, they must see some amazing things in their lifetime.

The next bird I look out for takes me to the end of the footpath, down a gravel round, onto the beach, and around the corner. Although cars are generally allowed on the beach, this area is fenced off so that cars don’t come and rip up all the habitat (while still allowing people to come). I sometimes come and sit on a log here, other times I lie down in the sand with a tripod keeping my camera up. And there’s one reason why this specific place is so special to me – the Wrybill.

A vulnerable, endemic bird, it is unique in being the only bird in the world with a beak that curves to the right. Breeding only in the South Island, they are generally only in the North Island between January and July. Larger flocks exist further up north, with the population at the Manawatu Estuary being quite small – likely less than 50 individuals.

Their unique bill is shaped so, in order to reach the insect larvae finding refuge underneath rocks on the riverbed. Although their breeding is dependent on braided rivers, during the rest of the year they can find refuge in some strange places. Flocks frequent the upper Manukau harbour over winter, and it is not uncommon to find individuals nesting on tall buildings, and they have even been found on the tarmac of Auckland Airport.

The Wrybill is especially vulnerable to predation from cats. New Zealand has a problem with feral cats in some areas, but most areas with high amounts of domestic cats are away from native birds. This is not true with the Manawatu Estuary, which sits directly on the town of Foxton Beach. A place where some people permanently live, and where some come for holiday, there are a large amount of cats in the area. Too many times I’ve seen domestic cats sitting on the footpath by the bird sanctuary, or in the grass watching the birds forage. Although these cats are well fed, often not in the most athletic condition, and sometimes wearing bells on their collars, they are highly evolved hunters with instincts to hunt these birds. Although this sanctuary provides protection to many, many species of birds, no individual bird will be truly safe while the domestic cats are left free to roam around the area.

Read more about responsible cat ownership – http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/files/file/CatFactsheet.pdf

Read more about the Manawatu Estuary – http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/manawatu-estuary/

Read more about the White-Faced Heron – http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/white-faced-heron

Read more about the Bar-Tailed Godwit – http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/bar-tailed-godwit

Read more about the Wrybill – http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/wrybill

All photos, unless stated otherwise in the caption, are taken by Pete Naik