Greenpark Sands - four wheel drive impacts

The Greenpark sands is a critical staging location for migrating wrybill and is also important for birds over-wintering. During times of floods on rivers it is also important as an interim feeding location. Sadly 4Wd tracks continue to degrade and scar much of this important habitat but also for other native wading birds. Action needs to be taken to limit 4WD access to this important habitat.

Wrybill over 20 years recaptured

One wrybill over 20 years of age and two over 19 years have just been recaptured at Miranda by wrybill researcher Adrian Riegan. A breeding female from the Rangitata River has also been recaptured at Miranda. Wrybills should be commencing their southward migration within the next month or so.

wrybill males in territorial dispute

On a prime feeding riffle- beak and claw-

Colour banding- allowing an insight into the lives of wrybill

wrybill nest with three eggs

As rare as a four leaf clover !!

That iconic bill

Thanks again Phil

Feeding up -2

Photo credit- Dr. Phil Battley

Outstanding photos of wrybill at Manawatu estuary-

An important feeding location for migrating wrybills in Autumn and Spring (PAL)

"Here are some photos from the Manawatu Est in March if you want them for your blog. Didn’t get a crippling worm-feeding shot, and the light was not great, but it’s a start. The very skinny one is obviously stretched!"

Cheers, Phil
___________________________
Dr Phil Battley
Ecology Group - PN 624
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Status report

They now occupy about 60 per cent of their estimated original range- refer following link to Ministry for the Environment

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/environmental-reporting/biodiversity/indicator-species/wrybill/

wrybill in flight

Tricky- they move fast !

Wrybill- a bird of two worlds- Firth of Thames

Like many wader species.Wrybill- a bird of two worlds

I am fascinated by the duality and contrasts of the wrybill's two main environments
1. the braided rivers of Canterbury
2. the expanse of the northern harbours such as the birds main wintering location at the Firth of Thames.

But lets not forget the smaller coastal estuaries and lagoons that form important stop over points for the birds on their migration such as Lake Ellesmere, Ashley River mouth and Foxton. Mid- August should see the commencement of thew wrybill's southward migration from the northern harbours to the braided rivers of the South Island.

Wrybill blog

Hi all-- welcome to my wrybill blog- an informal blog on wrybills.
I welcome any comments and observations/ photographs or information anyone would like to contribute as the blog explores aspects of the wrybill's world.
Welcome onboard.
Kind regards


Peter Langlands
Outdoor/ environmental writing, research and photography
B.Sc (Zoology) Diploma of Science (Aquatic Ecology)

H: 64 3 338 5373
M: 0274 501 916
E: langlands@xtra.co.nz

P.O.Box 2819
Christchurch Mail Centre 8140
New Zealand

wrybill at rest on Manukau

Welcome to the wrybill blog

Hi all- Welcome to my wrybill blog