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Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1928, Page 2

Godwits in thousands are to he seen along the Ninety-mile Beach and in other coastal quarters of the Northern Peninsula, and since the season opened many excellent hags have been secured. The -birds, which migrate from Siberia, reach New Zealand a Knit November, and again leave these shores ill April, for the other side of the world, by which time they are in excellent condition. The favourite and most effective method of shooting the birds is from motor-cars, which, on the Ninety-mile Beach are driven at anything up to 00 miles an hour to effect a quick approach, and, when the flock of godwits takes the air, the shooting commences. “Whenever the birds do not immediately take a short turn seawards or otherwise frustrate the aim of the “guns,” i,t is by no means rare to drop six or seven godwits with the first barrel and a brace at least is usually expected. Old residents of the northern regions say that the number of these Siberian visitors does not grow appreciably less, and when, on a journev the full length of the Ninety-mile Beach they are encountered in vast numbers all the way the extent of their migratory activities is in a measure realised. \\ hen the time for departure approaches the godwits assemble at various points along the beaches and make a number of trial flights, which students of the birds say are to test their fitness for the big annual events. Always there is a proportion not in condition to return to Siberia, and these of necessity winter in New Zealand. The year round there are a few to he seen on the tienches and sand dunes of the north.