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
Kawaupaka/Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
Native. Relict (much reduced but stable population)
This is the most common of the five species of cormorants recorded in the Estuary and is most frequently seen perched on both man-made and natural structures. They will also rest on land, but this is not favoured as difficulty is experienced when taking off.
Diet consists of fish, including tuna (eels) and crustacea but will also consume frogs and invertebrates in brackish water. They hunt by diving and can stay submerged for up to twenty seconds at a time often surfacing some distance away.
At the onset of the breeding season both sexes develop a crest.
Nests are built in tree-top colonies, usually over-hanging water and are bulky structures in which up to five eggs are laid.
Also observed in the area is the Māpunga/Great Cormorant:(Phalacrocorax carbo) which is a much large, all black bird. This is a cosmopolitan species that occurs in many parts of the world.