An article from New Zealand about Migrating birds

Inlcuded in the parcel by lilicherie McGregor

Godwits facing perilous journey


The godwits are about to head back to Alaska, amid fears food supplies along their journey may be dwindling.
Adult godwits make the annual 22,000km round trip between Alaska for the Northern hemisphere summer and New Zealand for the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Godwits are long-legged, long billed wading birds.

Christchurch City Council ranger Andrew Crossland said their numbers had been declining for the past two decades.
He said that this was likely due to many of them perishing on the way home because of loss of feeding grounds in Asia.

“Loss of feeding habitat means building up fat reserves fro the final leg of the migration is becoming increasingly difficult.

“This makes our treatment of godwits in New Zealand even more important, as it is crucial they need to set out on their return in peak condition.”

The council said Christchurch had adopted the birds as “harbingers of spring” with the cathedral bells heralding their arrival.