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
Poaka/Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
Native. Not threatened.
Poaka/Pied Stilts can be seen on the mudflats at the estuary and mix readily with other feeding shorebirds such as oystercatchers and godwits. It is more abundant in winter when flocks of over a hundred can regularly be encountered from the viewing platform.at Dawick Street.
They are a stunning, slender black and white wader that stalks through the water on long, red, stilt-like legs which trail behind them when flying. Plumage can be variable, especially around the head and neck. The long, slim beak is black and the eye red.
Diet consists of water insects and crustacea which are taken from the water or the mud. When wading through water, it may take food from the surface or put its head underwater. On the mudflats it probes or scythes soft mud with its beak. Pied stilts are usually seen in groups, and also breed in small colonies. The bird has a distinctive yapping call which it utters while both on the ground and in flight,
Tōrea pango/Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
Endemic. At risk-recovering.
At the estuary it can be seen on the mudflats at low tide, usually near the tideline, and, at high tide, roosting on the sandspit visible from Dawick Street.
It is very similar to the Pied Oystercatcher in looks and behaviour. but the plumage is variable and may be entirely black, pied or intermediate between the two. Pied forms can be distinguished from the Variable Oystercatcher by the smudged boundary between the black and white plumage on the breast and the lack of a white tab in front of the wing.
nzbirdsonline-Variable Oystercatcher
Tōrea/South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
Endemic. At risk-declining.
The Pied Oystercatcher breeds in the South Island but winters throughout the country. At the estuary it can be seen on the mudflats at low tide, usually near the tide line, and roosting on the sandspit visible from Dawick Street at high tide. Can be the commoner of the two species.