Pakiri fairy tern volunteers needed

Two pairs of New Zealand’s rarest endemic breeding bird, the fairy tern, have laid eggs in the Mangawhai refuge, with another three pairs showing signs of breeding behaviour.

The Department of Conservation’s Whangarei communications ranger Abby Meagher says the first birds laid two eggs at the “Dredge site” and are known to be nesting together for the fifth consecutive year. They have successfully raised three chicks over this period. The second pair, nesting in the “South Valley” for the second consecutive year, laid their second egg mid-November.

The area is being cared for by warden Rangi Zimmerman, who has returned to the site from Waipu.

At Pakiri, the resident pair has also laid two eggs in a nest at the river mouth. This pair has bred there since the summer of 2003/04.

DOC Warkworth mainland biodiversity ranger David Wilson said that extra volunteer observers would be welcome at Pakiri on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This involves keeping an eye on the nesting pair in case anything untoward happens to the nest, as well as talking to anyone interested in the project and sometimes asking people to control their dogs and stay out of the fenced-off nesting area.

He said some knowledge of birds is useful, but full training is provided.

NZ dotterels and variable oystercatchers also nest at the site so monitoring their breeding as well is keeping DOC warden Eliane Lagnaz busy.

David said DOC is grateful to the local community for their support, particularly Pakiri Beach Horse rides, the Pakiri G Trust and members of Ngati Manuhiri.