6-844: The Seabird Coast , also known as the Wharekawa Coast , is a beach area situated on the Firth of Thames in the North Island of New Zealand , lies about three kilometres from the small town of Miranda . It is the location of the Miranda Shorebird Centre and is well known for its godwits . On 18 November 1769, James Cook landed on the Seabird Coast as a part of the first voyage , as HMS Endeavour circumnavigated New Zealand. Godwits migrate in huge flocks to and fro between New Zealand and Alaska . Some of
12-574: Is located on the Seabird Coast , on the western shore of the bay at Miranda . However, the firth overall is severely damaged by man-made influences, especially dairy-farm run-off, and has not recovered from large-scale mussel dredging over 40 years after the practice ceased (more information in the Hauraki Gulf article). Whales such as southern right whales (one of two of the first confirmed birth records in main islands waters since
18-466: Is the firth of the rivers Waihou and Piako , the former of which was formerly named the Thames River, and the town of Thames lies on its southeastern coast. Its Maori name is Tikapa . In traditional legend, the firth and the greater Hauraki Gulf are protected by a taniwha named Ureia, who takes the form of a whale. The firth lies at the southern end of the Hauraki Gulf , southeast of
24-678: The city of Auckland . It occupies a rift valley or graben between the Coromandel Peninsula and Hunua Ranges , which continues into the Hauraki Plains to the south. The Firth of Thames is an important site for waders or shorebirds, and is listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention . The Miranda Shorebird Centre, operated by the Miranda Naturalists' Trust ,
30-412: The sake of the godwits. 37°10′0.15″S 175°18′43.4″E / 37.1667083°S 175.312056°E / -37.1667083; 175.312056 This Waikato geography article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Firth of Thames The Firth of Thames ( Māori : Tikapa Moana-o-Hauraki ) is a large bay located in the north of the North Island of New Zealand. It
36-401: The weaker ones give up and stop at Australia or China. The most famous godwit, known as E7, has flown all the way from Alaska to New Zealand non-stop. Most other birds stop at China on the way. Many bird-spotting posts are placed around the beach for bird watching, and a bird sanctuary located nearby provides for injured birds. The New Zealand government purposely limits the local population for
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