Far flying Godwits

Here is an exciting news clip from New Zealand. It’s nice to see birds making the news.

Bar-tailed Godwits, a shorebird that breeds in Alaska and winters in New Zealand and Australia have been tracked in their migration. The Bar-tailed Godwit is one of the species that is considered High Concern under the US Shorebird Conservation Plan due to their low breeding population of 100,000-150,000 in Alaska. Threats to their wintering grounds and migratory stopover sights in Asia, as well as their restricted breeding range in North America are also factors.

It is incredible, and in fact hard to believe, that these birds weighing in at less than a pound, can fly non-stop for a week, covering 6,000 miles (10,000 km).

Bar-tailed Godwit

Source: Point Reyes Bird Observatory
Photo credit: Changhua Coast Conservation Action