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The two NZ Dotterel chicks hatched recently on Manly Beach are being watched over by a team of dedicated bird enthusiasts.
The team were excited to see the first chick hatched on November 25, and its sibling two days later. Dotterel minder Derek Kelsey says they quickly grew more confident and look for food quite far from the nest.
A second area of the beach, where the chicks spend time, has been roped off and signs erected to make the public aware, especially those walking dogs.
At four weeks old, dotterel experts will very gently catch the chicks and put a band on their legs to identify them.
It will be 2-3 weeks after that before they are big enough to fly.
As Hibiscus Matters went to print, there is no sign of a chick hatching at the other end of the beach, where they nested on the front lawns of local homes (HM November 28).
Anyone who has an hour to spare can sign on to do a shift keeping an eye on the chicks, via the Big Manly Dotterels Facebook page.
