Story: Wading birds

Waders, Firth of Thames

Waders, Firth of Thames

Thousands of waders gather at the best feeding sites, and feed while the tide is out. The Firth of Thames, south-east of Auckland, has vast tidal flats and good shelter for birds when the tide is too high for feeding. Some of the birds in this November photo are godwits, recently arrived from their gruelling non-stop flight from Alaska. They need to feed intensively to restore the body weight they have lost on the journey.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10031328
Photograph by Dick Veitch

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Wading birds - New Zealand’s wading birds', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9144/waders-firth-of-thames (accessed 11 May 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015