Imagine flying more than 11,000km non-stop from Alaska to Auckland – it’s no wonder kuaka (bar-tailed godwits) are keen for a snack and some peace and quiet on their arrival in Aotearoa. As the weather cools in the northern hemisphere, kuaka are returning to New Zealand, their home during our spring and summer months. These shy birds can be spotted on tidal mudflats around the country, dining on small marine life and refuelling after their incredible journey.

There are many sites around Auckland where the kuaka settle down after their journey, which is the longest known non-stop flight of any non-seabird.

“You can see kuaka all over New Zealand, but 50 per cent of the population is in Auckland, so you could really say Auckland is godwit central,” says renowned godwit expert Keith Woodley, manager at Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre and author of In Pursuit of Champions.

Large numbers of kuaka are in Kaipara Harbour and Manukau Harbour. A good place to view them is at Ambury Regional Park. However, they are also found in smaller numbers on popular local beaches such as Snells Beach.

“Snells Beach will regularly have around 300 godwits roosting and foraging during the season,” says Megan Young, Senior Conservation Advisor Auckland Council. “We love how the public is interested in these birds and how the community has embraced them, but if people visit they need to be mindful of not disturbing these precious birds – they've earned the rest. Follow the dog rules and keep a respectful distance from the birds.”

Before you see the kuaka in the wild, learn more about this incredible bird with these fun facts.

Going the distance

Over the course of the year, kuaka will make a 30,000km round trip. Their flight from Alaska to Auckland across the Pacific Ocean is approximately 11,000km over eight to nine days.

When they leave our shores in March, they will travel 10,000km to locations around the Yellow Sea coasts of China and Korea for a refuelling pit-stop before embarking on another 7000km journey, making their way back to their breeding grounds in Alaska. “

“To manage their flight, they must effectively start doubling their weight a few weeks before flying, and that extra weight is stored as brown fat, which fuels their journey,” says Keith. “If you were to make a human analogy, it would be like being asked to double your weight in a month and then run a marathon, but these birds are adapted to this.”

Kuaka were a mysterious bird in Māori mythology due to their disappearing act. They were believed to accompany the spirits of the departed and to live in the ancestral homeland Hawaiki.

Shore thing

Kuaka are shorebirds and, unlike seabirds, they cannot land on the water and must fly continuously, flapping their wings.

“It’s powered flight the whole way, but they do use wind as part of their migration strategy, and we can sometimes predict departure dates due to wind patterns. Like cyclists, they prefer a tailwind,” says Keith.

Call me loyal

Kuaka are site-loyal, meaning they return to the same spots in New Zealand year after year. Scientists have tracked the behaviour of marked birds, such as one named E7 in 2007, whose behaviour was extensively researched.

“When juvenile birds arrive in New Zealand, they might move around a few times to different locations, but once they find somewhere they like, they will return faithfully to that same spot each year,” says Keith.

Master navigators

If kuaka run into bad weather systems during their flight, they are often blown off course, but many can get back on track using their stellar navigational skills to return to the exact locations. “We know they use the stars and the moon to map out their course, and they also use magnetic fields,” explains Keith.

Conservation is key

One of the biggest challenges to kuaka is the loss of habitat and food sources. Development in the Yellow Sea has put the birds under significant pressure, but experts like Keith are working with scientists from around the world to raise awareness about these birds. China has recently had some of its sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. In Aotearoa, kuaka are a protected species and Auckland Council has been contributing to conservation efforts.

Megan suggests that those interested in seeing the birds should visit Ambury Regional Park, which has bird hides designed for watching birdlife, and artificial bird islands where the kuaka roost. Megan says not disturbing roosting (resting) or foraging birds is essential. Areas where the birds roost are monitored by Auckland Council rangers and conservation experts. At places like Snells Beach where the birds share the beach with humans, Megan says following the dog rules is essential.

“It’s also important for people to have an awareness of where the birds are, and if you see shorebirds roosting on the beach or foraging, don’t let your dog chase them,” says Megan. “The birds use up a lot of energy to get away and it’s stressful for them. When they are chased or disturbed frequently on our busy beaches, it's bad for their health. If you see any shorebirds roosting on the beach or foraging, give them a wide berth or turn back, if you have a dog don't allow it to chase them."

Rules have temporarily changed at Snells Beach over the summer to protect the kuaka/bar-tailed godwit from disturbance.

Adds Keith, “It’s particularly important to be mindful of kuaka roosting on a high tide in February and March as those birds are already preparing for their migration. They’re storing reserves of fuel, so unnecessary disturbance at that time can be super critical as they need to conserve energy for their long flight."

Temporary rules at Snells Beach help the birds

To protect shorebirds such as kuaka and tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterels), temporary changes to Auckland Council’s dog walking rules are in place at the northern end of Snells Beach from 13 September 2024 until 24 March 2025.

During this time, dogs are:

• prohibited from all beach and intertidal areas north of the Sunburst Avenue boat ramp

• on leash at all times on all reserves, north of the Sunburst Avenue boat

To learn more about dog rules at other parks and beaches, visit the Auckland Council website.