There's plenty to see and do at the estuary.
The estuary walkway provides beautiful views, and there are signs along the way providing information about some of the birds you might see.
There is a lot of interesting wildlife at the estuary. As well as birds, the estuary is also home to some interesting plants and is an important habitat for native fish.
The Manawatū Estuary Trust enjoys giving people the opportunity to learn more about this amazing environ
Päpaka/Tunnelling Mud Crab Austrohelice crassa
Endemic. Not assessed.
A frequently seen animal on the mudflats around the estuary which is easily observed from the viewing platform on Dawick Street. As their name suggests they are enthusiastic tunnellers and can have a very complex burrow system which they diligently clean out at low tide.
Scavengers by nature, they will eat not only carrion, worms and algae (seaweed) but also rummage through mud for morsels to eat.
As far as mud crabs go, they are a small species with a carapace (shell) growing to a maximum of 40mm. Eyes are on stalks, and these are reputed to see movement up to 40 metres distance but even so, they are a favourite prey of kōtare/kingfishers around the estuary which hunt them from perched on tree debris or other structures that provide them with some elevation.
Titan Acorn Barnacle Megabalanus coccopama
What is believed to be the first record for this large and colourful barnacle found naturally in Aotearoa New Zealand was in November 2020 at Foxton Beach. There are several other records however of them being attached to ships.
Their natural distribution is the Pacific coasts of South and Central America but is now being reported from other parts of the world, plus heading northward towards North America. It has been reported several times from Australia.
As the individual found locally was attached to a cuttlefish bone it is thought to have originated from Australia where the nearest population of these familiar beach oddities are found.
Like numerous other species it is thought to be expanding its range as sea temperatures gradually warm.
Wikipedia-Titan Acorn Barnacle
Smithsonian Institute-Invasive data
