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Dotterel statistics
Tawharanui: 16 pairs, two fledged
Snells Beach: Five pairs, no chicks
Omaha Spit: 26 pairs, two fledged
It was a wild ride for Auckland’s threatened New Zealand dotterel population last breeding season as Mother Nature unleashed some powerful weather events.
Of the 172 pairs monitored by volunteers across 61 locations, including Tawharanui, Omaha spit and Snells Beach, 74 chicks were fledged giving a regional productivity for the season of 0.43 chicks per monitored pair.
Only four chicks fledged in the Rodney area last season.
Auckland Council’s senior conservation advisor Ben Paris says this shows that even Auckland’s best breeding areas really didn’t do so well due to the weather events.
He says Cyclone Gabriel and other significant storms over the summer had a major effect on the breeding season.
“Just like with people, the immediate impact that comes after a storm strike is often negative,” he says.
“Birds and other animals are adaptable because they’ve evolved in these dynamic coastal landscapes.
The new or changed habitat a tropical storm produces can sometimes be beneficial, but not in this case.
“So, for at least 74 chicks to make it through though, is impressive. While some community groups who manage and monitor New Zealand dotterel sites across the region may feel disappointed, it is important to realise these birds do have ‘bad years’.
“On average, most years Auckland hits the average breeding number showing just how effective our dotterel minders are.”
“This was the highest number of monitored breeding pairs we have had reported for a season and the highest number of locations covered. While the numbers might sound notable, it is the lowest productivity rate recorded in Auckland over the past 10 years.”
Some of the non-beach breeding sites had more success than usual, not having to deal with the effects of storm surge and inundation from this year’s storm events.
Auckland is a national stronghold for the species with an estimated national population of around 2600 birds. As the population increases, along with added human pressure on beaches, dotterel pairs are continuing to turn up at new sites, particularly non-beach sites, to nest each season.
Six chicks fledged from land surrounding the NorthWest Shopping Centre at Westgate, three from the industrial area at Onehunga, and one from the grounds of St Kentigern’s College. Paris says the northern NZ dotterel population has gone from a steady decline to nationally increasing and is a true conservation success story – Auckland dotterel minders have played a significant role in their national recovery.
Dog rule changes
Dog walking rules will change in Snells Beach to protect nesting dotterel and other shorebirds, starting on Friday, September 1. From that date until March 24, all dogs are banned from the beach anywhere north of the Sunburst Reserve boat ramp. Dogs can still be walked on a lead on the coastal pathway, and are allowed on the beach south of the boat ramp, at least until December 1, when summer rules will prohibit dogs from the southern beach between 10am and 5pm.
Info: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/Pages/parkdetails.aspx?Location=2558#dogwalking
