Fairy tern protection puzzles DOC

Short of mounting a 24-hour vigil during the nesting season, there’s not a lot more that the Department of Conservation can do to protect fairy tern chicks on the Mangawhai spit, according to area spokesperson Reuben Williams.

Last month a chick was stepped on and killed when the fenced off breeding area was breached, probably only days before the chick was ready to fly to safety.

During the breeding season, DOC hires a warden John Winters to watch over breeding pairs, nests and vulnerable chicks. He spends five days a week patrolling the area during summer, and is backed up by the efforts of local volunteers from the newly-established Fairy Tern Trust.

It is at least 23 days before the chicks learn to fly and after that they are heavily dependent on their parents for several more weeks.

Nesting areas are marked with brightly coloured fence tape supported by battens.
“They are highly visible, and most people give the birds a wide berth,” Mr Williams says. “Most people are very aware of the birds and how vulnerable they are, and keep out of the area.

“I’m not sure what more we can do. There are interpretive signs at boat ramps and further signage within the refuge. We are serious about saving the birds from extinction and are confident that our objective of increasing their numbers to 100 by 2015 can be met.”
There are currently around 40 fairy terns, up from 30 or fewer 10 years ago. They only breed only in Mangawhai, Pakiri, Waipu and South Kaipara.

At the time of writing, two remaining chicks at Mangawhai were only days away from flying the nest.

DOC warden John Winters beside the nesting area