Fertiliser drop no risk to fairy terns

An aerial drop of fertiliser over the Mangawhai Harbour spit ruffled a few feathers last month.

Anxious onlookers, gathered on the beach, voiced concerns that poison was being dropped over the Spit, the breeding ground of the critically endangered fairy tern and vulnerable New Zealand dotterel.

However, Harbour Restoration Society publicity officer Loraine Hartley was quick to reassure locals that the society was carrying out a “carefully controlled” fertiliser drop to give a boost to more than 18,000 spinifix and pingao seedlings planted by volunteers over winter to stabilise dunes.

“It was just a routine fertiliser application carried out in conjunction with the Department of Conservation, and with their approval,” Loraine said.

“We have to complete this each year before the end of August so as not to cause any disturbance to the birds. In fact, DOC will make us finish up earlier if any fairy terns are seen hanging around the breeding grounds. All work is approved by DOC, under a management plan, and involves specific timing to ensure there is no disruption to the activities and nesting of all bird species utilising the spit.

“Poison to control a rapidly increasing rabbit population is hand-laid by an approved handler and only after agreement by DOC and local iwi. Without this control in place considerable damage will be created within the dune areas, debilitating new plantings – and without doubt affecting nesting areas.”

Image: Volunteers during a recent planting day at Mangawhai Harbour.