The champion long-distance flying birds are seen off towards the end of summer with a brief and informative ceremony at the Southshore Spit.  The Godwit makes the longest non-stop flight known for any bird and also the longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal – more than 11,000km along a route from Alaska to Christchurch.

After resting up and filling out under the protection of parks rangers and bird lovers in Christchurch, the birds are ready to return to their Alaskan breeding grounds.

This unique and very special event is presented by the CCC, its Regional Park Rangers team and the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust.

BYO Binoculars. Free Sausage BBQ.  No dogs please!

WWD 2012

Lincoln University is undertaking a survey of recreational users of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai.

We’d like you to tell us what you think and know about water quality, and how it affects your recreational activity.

We’d appreciate your contribution to our survey.

You can participate in the survey by following this link: Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai Survey

http://www.estuary.org.nz/media/podcasts/

Episode 1: Murray Snowden
Episode 2: Murray and Helen Snowden ]]> http://www.estuary.org.nz/estuarynews/podcasts-now-online/feed/ 0 http://www.estuary.org.nz/podcasts/murray-helen-snowdon-episode-two/ http://www.estuary.org.nz/podcasts/murray-helen-snowdon-episode-two/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:22:15 +0000 ihutai http://www.estuary.org.nz/?p=534

Murray and his wife, Helen moved to the lower reaches of St Andrew’s Hill in 1952. Today the view has changed in a number of ways. Murray talked about Morton’s jetty which then extended out into the estuary.

Listen to an excerpt first »

Listen to the full Podcast;

Murray Snowdon reminiscences about growing up in Redcliffs, a seaside suburb adjacent to the estuary, Murray was born in 1926, this story about Joe Smith, would have occurred sometime in the late 1930’s.

Listen to an excerpt first »

Listen to the full Podcast;

Over the past two years we’ve had a number of oral history recordings done with people who have lived and worked around the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai. Starting tomorrow 11 October at 11am, “Tides of Change – Our Estuary” will air fortnightly on 96.9 Plains FM. The first programme will be as follows:

Murray and Helen Snowdon

Murray Snowdon has lived adjacent to the Avon-Heathcote Estuary for most of his life. Initially as a child in Beachville Road, Redcliffs. In 1950 he and his wife Helen settled on the lower reaches of Mount Pleasant, and were still living there in 2010. Murray, a keen sailor and fisherman, is a Life member of the Mount Pleasant Yacht Club, and was Commodore from 1971-73. He has also had a long association with Fish and Game, and the Christchurch Estuary Association.

We hope you will be able to listen to them as they air but, if not, these programmes will also be available soon on our website as downloadable podcasts. Will post the link when it’s available.

Click on the image below to enlarge.