New group planning celebration for godwit arrival

August 2nd, 2014

Welcoming Motueka's own godwit population next month after their non-stop flight from Alaska will again be the focus of celebrations being planned by a dedicated team of organisers.

A small committee from Friends of Motueka Estuaries has taken over the task from the Motueka Arts Council, which has organised these celebrations for the past four years but this year are busy with other projects.

The event, which will be on Sunday September 28th from 10am - 1pm, will not only celebrate the amazing journey that our godwits make each year, but also raise awareness of the importance of the estuaries and how we can keep them healthy.

As usual, the main event will be held at the Old Wharf, Motueka Quay (next to the wreck of the Janie Seddon), which is usually directly opposite where the godwits can be seen across the water on the sandspit.

The celebration will include:

Information in the DoC marquee on godwit lifestyle, where they come from and go to as well as the other birds that frequent our estuaries.
Viewing of the birds feeding in the estuary from the Old Wharf, looking through telescopes provided by Birds New Zealand. Bring your own binoculars.
Artists and art work from the Motueka Art Group.
Presentation of prizes for the children's competitions at 11am, including a quiz, drawings and story competitions. (See detail at the end of this list.)
Activities and art projects for children, including the Stoat Trap game from DoC.
Promotion of "I'm a wet sand walker" to avoid disturbing birds on beaches.

*** Download the quiz, and details of the drawings and story competition. Copies of the competitions will be in the Motueka Library.

In addition an expert ornithologist David Melville will speak on godwit research on the following Saturday October 4th at 7pm at the SeniorNet Rooms, 42 Pah Street. Gold coin donation.

Viewing the godwits during last year's celebration

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