Waihi & Miranda Field Trip 2018

By Kiri Te Wano and Andy Aanensen

Only one trip was held for Project Tongariro members this year - but this one was sure worth it!

In early winter, members were treated to a fantastic trip to Thames, staying near the Thames township in Kauaeranga Valley, in two cottages. From there the group explored the gold mining history of the region by partaking in a guided tour of the Gold Mine Experience. They then went on to learn about the Kauri logging history in the valley. The Miranda Hot Pools and the local pubs and restaurants were also checked out and enjoyed.

The highlight of the trip was definitely the visit to the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre. Following is an excerpt taken from Andy Aanensen’s article on the trip;

“We headed to the hides to watch the birds species gathering on the shell banks . The sun managed to dip below the clouds near the horizon to bathe the foreshore in the beautiful golden glow. It highlighted the many birds that were on the shell banks”.

Here the shell banks of Miranda, attract thousands of migratory birds each year and make for fantastic bird viewing. Some birds make the arduous 10,000 km journey south from the Arctic circle to arrive at Miranda in the spring and fly north again in the autumn. Other birds fly 1,000 km north from the braided river systems of the South Island in the autumn, to over winter at Miranda returning south in the spring. E.g. wrybill, South Island pied oystercatcher and the kōtuku.

Project Tongariro members were expertly hosted by the centre’s manager - Keith Woodley. He was part of the team from the Miranda Trust, that had been travelling to China and North Korea for several years working on bird surveys. This year they were able to take a TVNZ crew to record their trip and the interchange with the North Korean ornithologists. The documentary that aired recently on our screens highlighted the importance and need for many countries to be involved in the protection of habitats for migrating species, who know no borders.