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Waders are found in many areas of New Zealand, in the shallow
protected coastal waters of estuaries and harbours but also inland,
especially along the beds of the South Island's braided rivers.
In spring, migrations bring large numbers of waders to New Zealand
from their arctic breeding grounds. Others migrate between the
North and South Islands. Places such as Miranda on the Firth of
Thames, Farewell Spit, and Waituna are of international significance,
and several others provide excellent opportunities to watch large
congregations of such birds.
Learn more about Natural
history/Seashore birds of New Zealand.
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A flock of wading birds at Miranda.
Across the Firth of Thames: the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo
Stuart Chambers.
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| Auckland |
Manukau Harbour |
After
Miranda (see below), the flats of Mangere sewage ponds are
the best location in the Auckland region to observe waders.
Because of the 3 hour tidal difference between Miranda and
the Manukau Harbour, many of the birds are able to feed
on both. |
| Auckland |
Miranda |
Up to
40,000 birds, 60 species recorded, of which 24 are waders.
Arctic migrants are present from September to April. Wrybills
in winter. Large flocks of South Island oystercatchers from
January to July. |
| Waikato |
Raglan Harbour |
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| Waikato |
Kawhia Harbour |
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| Bay
of Plenty |
Ohiwa Harbour |
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| Wellington |
Pauatahanui Inlet |
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| Nelson |
Farewell Spit |
In summer
tens of thousands of birds including bar-tailed godwits,
knots, Mongolian dotterels, wrybills, long-billed curlews,
little whimbrels, turnstones, grey-tailed tattlers, and
others. |
| Marlborough |
Lake Grassmere |
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| Canterbury |
Lake Ellesmere |
A coastal
wetland and lake covering 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres),
with water depth up to 3.6 metres (12'). Waders include
South Island oystercatchers, pied stilts, godwits. |
| Canterbury |
Twizel |
The black
stilt, endemic to and once common throughout New Zealand,
now critically endangered and restricted to the braided
rivers and wetlands of the Mackenzie Basin. |
| Southland |
Waituna Lagoon |
Northern
hemisphere migratory waders. Access difficult, easier at
Awarua Bay. |
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Specific references for this page:
Brian Parkinson 1999: Discover
New Zealand Wildlife - What to See and Where to Find it.
Penguin.
Ewen Cameron, Bruce Hayward, Graeme Murdoch 1997: A
Field Guide to Auckland. Godwit.
Stuart Chambers 1989: Birds of New Zealand - A Locality Guide.
Arun Books.
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