Endangered bird breeds in Taranaki

Forest and Bird, Issue 292, 1 May 1999, Page 7

Endangered bird breeds in Taranaki

Source:

David Medway.

he breeding range of the endangered New Zealand dotterel has extended southward with reports of a pair breeding in Taranaki. Formerly restricted to northern New Zealand, with another subspecies on Stewart Island, the birds were observed and photographed by David Medway a former branch chairman of North Taranaki Forest and Bird. At its various breeding grounds, on sandy beaches in the north, nesting attempts suffer from the vagaries of high tides, predatory animals, and interference by humans. Nesting pairs are often unable to raise their young successfully, and this has been the position at Taharoa Beach, near Kawhia in the King Country, until recently the most southerly nesting area on the west coast of the North Island. During the past few years, two New Zealand dotterel have been seen regularly on and near a sandspit at the mouth of the Pungaereere Stream just south of Cape Egmont. The birds were obviously resident on this bit of coast and not mere transients. A third New Zealand dotterel was first seen with them in April last year. On various occasions the general behaviour of the original birds indicated they might be breeding in the area, but there was no confirmation until this summer.

In early December, a New Zealand dotterel nest with three eggs was found near the tip of the sandspit. When visited again, a few days later, there was no trace of the nest scrape and only one egg, apparently deserted. Branches of wood in the immediate vicinity appeared to have been disturbed, perhaps by an unusually high tide. Shortly afterwards, however, two very agitated dotterel were seen about 400 metres away. The small chick with them ran under a log. While it was not seen again till mid-January, the young bird was then found actively feeding with one of the adult birds on a nearby sandy area. A week later it was flying and difficult to distinguish from its parents. Four New Zealand dotterel were seen in the area when last

visited. —

The total population of New Zealand dotterel is estimated at around 1400 birds.