Weapons range is safe place to nest away from humans
Critically endangered fairy terns have the protection of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at one of their breeding sites.
A Unimog and driver provided by the Defence Force are moving 12 tonnes of crushed oyster shell and sand at a weapons and bombs test site at Papakanui Spit on the Kaipara Harbour’s south head.
Department of Conservation staff are using the mix to create two nesting mounds to increase the odds for the fairy terns’ survival. ‘‘Having the Unimog and driver is making building the nesting mounds a lot easier and quicker,’’ DOC ranger Alex Wilson says. ‘‘The raised areas will protect the fairy tern nests from
‘‘The raised areas will protect the fairy tern nests from flooding during big high tides and storms.’’ Ranger Alex Wilson
flooding during big high tides and storms, while also protecting them from high winds which cover the eggs with sand.
‘‘When the eggs are covered, the parent birds can’t find them.’’
New Zealand’s rarest birds nest in the sand where their eggs and chicks are at risk of being disturbed by the public.
While it’s hard to imagine a weapons and bombing test site as a safe place, the fact it is a no-go zone for humans is what makes it safe for the birds. The air force avoids weapon testing and stays well away during nesting season, October to February.
The total population of fairy tern or tara-iti is about 40 birds.
They used to nest right round the North Island coast and on the east coast of the South Island.
Introduced predators, habitat loss and human disturbance have left them on the brink of extinction. DOC works in partnership with the NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust to protect and manage the breeding sites at Papakanui, Waipu, Mangawhai and Pakiri.
During breeding season a ranger is assigned to each site to monitor and protect the nests.
Eggs are transferred between nests to maximise the productivity of the breeding pairs, with eggs incubated at Auckland Zoo. Since the programme began, the number of breeding pairs has risen from three in 1984, to 11 to 12 pairs now.