Plea to dog owners on nesting dotterels

People are being asked to keep their dogs, and themselves, away from an area of Pa¯pa¯moa Beach where endangered New Zealand dotterel chicks are expected to hatch any day.

Te Puke Forest & Bird representative Carole Long said the organisation was anxiously waiting for the hatching of dotterel or tu¯turiwhatu chicks after nests were established in the Pa¯pa¯moa dunes.

According to the Department of Conservation, only about 2500 of the once common birds remain, making the species more at risk than some kiwi.

Dotterels typically nest in open sites such as low-lying sandbanks and beaches, often near residential or developed areas.

An area of the beach at Pa¯pa¯moa, near the access opposite Coast Boulevard, has been roped off and signs ask people to steer away.

“This is the most susceptible time for the chicks as they are so small and vulnerable but we are hoping that they will survive because of the excellent efforts put in by local residents as volunteers looking after pest control in the area,” Long said.

However, uncontrolled dogs were the main risk if they ran through nesting areas they could crush eggs, disturb nesting birds and kill chicks.

Long said the organisation wanted to appeal to owners to keep their dogs away from where the birds were nesting.

“There is such a huge area of beach to walk along that it is important to keep the people and pets and

pests away from the site where the protective fence and signage has been put up,” she said.

Long said that as the chicks grow they will venture to the water’s edge to feed so it was vital that people were aware of the risk of stepping on the tiny birds or preventing them from finding food.

“This is the second time we know of that New Zealand dotterel are nesting at this site and last year, the chicks disappeared immediately after hatching, as there was no pest control or protective fencing.” Disturbed adult birds can abandon the nest during incubation, leaving eggs at risk of overheating. When young chicks are disturbed, they can die from exhaustion as they cannot eat in time or get to their feeding grounds at the water’s edge.

Long wanted to thank everyone who helped with caring for the “special shorebirds”.

“The next few weeks are vital for the survival of their chicks.”