Please look after our dotterels
Northern New Zealand dotterel – Tuturiwhatu
I heard a sad story last summer.
A woman walked onto Langs beach with her dog. Suddenly realising that the dog had lagged behind, she called him or her and the dog ran up straight away. Off they walked down the beach in the sunshine, totally unaware that in the few minutes her dog was out of sight he or she had killed two tiny dotterel chicks.
These chicks are extremely small and vulnerable to even the most unaggressive pooch. They look like a fluff-ball of sand blowing along – so enticing to a dog. Or your dog may simply shortcut through the nesting area and inadvertently crush the eggs or chicks. Just a few seconds of inattention and your dog could be the reason the dotterels do not raise a family this year.
Of course dogs are not the only problem for these little birds who choose to nest in a clump of seaweed on the sand on a popular beach. Sadly a storm in Spring washed away nests at both ends of the beach and although the parents laid a second clutch of eggs and tiny chicks are now running around the nesting areas there are many hazards still to face. Very high tides can engulf the nests. Rats, stoats, hedgehogs (and even moggies brought up for the holidays) creep onto the beach at night. Tractors and beach buggies may drive far too close. Visitors new to the beach may shortcut through the nesting areas or duck under the ropes to search for a ball, oblivious to the nests under their feet.
Every year the same dotterel pairs come back to Langs to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. There are only about 2500 Northern NZ Dotterels left in the world and they need our help.
What can you do?
Please leash and watch your dog, especially at this time of the year when the birds are nesting. If you are anywhere near the nesting areas (which have ropes and signs) at each end of the beach keep an eye out for the parent birds. You might see them running down the beach trying to draw your attention away from the nests, sometimes even dragging a wing, hoping you might chase them and move away. This behaviour means you are near a nest or chicks, please leash your dog and move away.
Stay well clear of the roped off areas and drive tractors and beach buggies below the high tide mark.
Please also warn friends and visitors who may not know about the dotterels.
If we all become kaitiaki (guardians ) of these little birds then they will have a much better chance of raising chicks this summer.
If you’d like to know more about our dotterels there is a sign near the swings or check out the DOC website .