logo

Godwits arrive back in New Zealand

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share to Google Classroom

Thousands of Godwit birds have arrived back in New Zealand.

The birds have completed a migratory 10,000km non-stop flight from the Arctic

The Eastern bar-tail godwits, or kuaka in Māori, landed at the top of the South Island on Tuesday. They will spend the next few days resting after their huge flight.

The birds make the mammoth journey across the Pacific from their breeding ground in the Arctic to New Zealand every year.

Last year, one godwit was tracked flying more than 12,000km (7,500 miles) from Alaska to New Zealand, setting a new world record for avian non-stop flight.

In total around 80,000 godwits arrive and move into harbours and estuaries across our two islands.

Below is an image showing when and where the godwits travel.

7 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1
In a bizarre incident in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia,...
1
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are back, and this year...
1
Twenty-six-year-old Kalpana Balan from India, has clinched a coveted spot...
1
At the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo...

World & National News

1
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, is making its way through...
1
He Kāwanatanga, he Pirimia hou hoki tō Aotearoa. I te...
1
In a standout achievement, Morgan Wallen secured 11 wins at...
1
In a departure from recent trends, Walt Disney Studios is...