My Account
Ron and Cynthia Archer have a fine view from their Manly beachfront home and are spending even more time looking out their window since a pair of rare NZ dotterels, tuturiwhatu, made a nest on the front lawn.
They, and neighbour Gaynor Larsen, take pride in maintaining their properties, but their lawns will have to go unmowed for several more weeks, so as not to frighten the birds. Ron has also postponed a contract for repainting the outside of the house for the same reason.
Ron and Cynthia have lived on Manly beach since 1974 and this is the first year they have had a chance to become acquainted with these little birds.
“I have realised how much I like birds,” Cynthia says.
The couple feel protective of the nesting pair and worry about them out in the recent stormy weather. Ron had stern words with a dog owner whose dog was off lead and ran near the dotterels.
The nest is actually on Gaynor’s lawn, and she got in on the action early, having seen the birds mating from her upstairs window.
She says perhaps she can thank using the wrong weedkiller for the birds choosing her lawn for their nest.
She sprayed for Onehunga weed but used a chemical that also killed some of the grass. The dotterels have chosen the brown, dead bit of the lawn for their nest – they are perfectly camouflaged there, and maybe it looks like sand, where they also like to nest.
Forest and Bird have fenced off the nest site and the active and alert birds are busily sharing the jobs of sitting on three eggs and protecting the nest from any possible dangers.
