Hard work is paying off for conservation volunteers

Date:  19 December 2008

Matata, Herepuru, Otamarakau, Pikowai, Tarawera, Ohiwa Spit – areas that you’d usually associate with good fishing. Well, now you should associate these areas with one of New Zealand’s most endangered birds, the NZ dotterel as well. Nationally only about 1,700 birds remain.

Conservationist stalwarts John Groom from Matata and Meg and Mike Collins from Ohiwa have given up hundreds of hours over the years crusading for these little masters of camouflage. This breading season has seen them being joined by two new volunteers from Germany, Jan Kunath and Marvin Konig.

These volunteers have been out almost everyday checking predator trap lines, the NZ dotterel nests and chicks, building fences, erecting signs and generally advocating for the well being of this special endangered bird. Their hard work has been paying off – already this season seven chicks have successfully fledged, four chicks are still to fly and the team are currently keeping a watchful eye on a further three eggs.

Unfortunately it would seem that it is the human predators which have done the most damage this summer so far. One nest containing three eggs along from the Tarawera River mouth was driven right over the top of and the signs which had been erected around the area informing people to be aware of birds and nests in the area had been completely removed and destroyed.

Sarah King, Protected Species Ranger for the Department of Conservation summed up the feeling of the group. “It is really disappointing to see that after all the hard work that we’ve put in over the last few months [and years] that people still refuse to give these birds just a little bit of space which can make a huge difference to the chances of survival of this species. We are definitely starting to succeed at protecting these birds from stoats and other four legged predators, if we could just remind everyone on two legs to do their bit too”.

So if you see these signs, temporary fences and nests this summer while at the beach, please respect them, keep your dogs under control and move at least 50m away. Or if you see the team out walking the beaches please feel free to talk to them about what they are up to. There is plenty of room along the Bay of Plenty coast for everyone, the dotterels just need a bit of space while nesting.

Ms King finished by reminding people that large fines can be brought to bear against anyone found guilty of destroying or harassing native wildlife.