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The reef heron is relatively rare and sightings on Orewa Estuary have excited bird watchers. Pied shags are frequently seen on the estuary. Photos, Martin Sanders
For the first time, Orewa Estuary’s birdlife will form part of a national count of wading birds.
The count has been conducted around the country by The Ornithological Society of NZ for around 50 years, providing valuable information that is shared with scientists and the public, increasing knowledge about shorebirds.
Wading birds on Orewa Estuary will be counted by volunteers, led by Richard Chambers of Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird, and the data will then be fed into the national bird count.
Richard says the information will also be valuable locally. As residential development takes place all around the estuary, the bird count can be used in submissions related to the effects on the environment including issues such as siltation.
Richard says that it will require people to observe, using telescopes and binoculars, what is in the main flocks of wading birds on the sand islands in the estuary and record that data on paper or an emailed sheet.
Volunteers will also go around other parts of the estuary to see what scattered birds – non-waders, such as herons, geese or spoonbills – are present.
He says few people realise just how much bird activity there is on the estuary – this included a flock of around 200 godwits, before they left for Alaska in March.
“Also, banded rails are being seen more often, even before pest control has really begun, which shows the value of the estuary margins and mangrove forest,” Richard says.
The count will take place on June 10. Anyone interested in taking part can meet outside Estuary Arts Centre, at 3pm. The group will then walk along towards Crocodile Island. Anyone taking part will need to bring binoculars and/or a camera.
If the weather on June 10 is bad, the date will be shifted to June 24, also at 3pm.
So that migratory birds, such as the godwits and pied oystercatchers, are included, there will be another count undertaken at the estuary after those birds return in November.
