Sign In / Register
A rare NZ dotterel, obviously very sick, was rescued by an observant and caring local dog walker last month, nursed back to health by Auckland Zoo vets, and returned to Shakespear Regional Park.
Whangaparāoa resident Annaliese Booler was on her daily walk in the park on June 20 when she saw the bird, which did not move as she approached.
She saw that it was unwell, and its legs were banded, but at that stage did not know how rare a bird it was.
“I love birds and have rescued quite a few, but wasn’t familiar with dotterels,” Annaliese says.
Tucked into her jacket, the dotterel went home with Annaliese who then Googled the numbers on the leg bands.
This put her in touch with DOC, which was very responsive and provided advice.
The bird was identified as a female juvenile named Okorowai which was banded ESU as a chick last March.
Annaliese kept Okorowai at home in a box until Auckland Zoo asked her to bring the bird in.
“The vet said the dotterel would have died if I hadn’t rescued her,” she says.
Emaciated, very weak and thin, the dotterel weighed just 98g. The zoo’s vet team provided rehydration, warmth and nourishment, to stabilise the bird.
X-rays, blood tests and faecal samples ruled out traumatic injury, though parasites were suspected, so the dotterel was dewormed.
Ongoing care included tube-feeding three times a day, until she began to feed for herself.
Okorowai was released back at Te Haruhi Bay, close to where she was found. On release day she weighed 118g.
Her progress is being monitored by local bird watchers, including Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society member John Stewart, who will update DOC and the zoo.
Stewart says the dotterel now looks fit and well.
“A great outcome,” he says.
The NZ dotterel is an endangered species with around 2500 birds surviving today.
If you see a dotterel or any wildlife in trouble please call 0800 DOC HOT.
