New Zealand dotterel and their minders
Date: 28 August 2008
September signals the start of the NZ dotterel breeding season and as the endangered NZ dotterel pairs start nesting on the beaches in the Coromandel, dedicated dotterel minders start providing protection from the threat of tides, predators, vehicles and an inquisitive public.
This year the NZ Dotterel Watch Programme (a partnership between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Newmont Mining, Waihi) is sponsoring Graeme Webb, a committed, long term dotterel minder from Whangamata and trainee DOC ranger Natasha Priddle, to attend the annual NZ Dotterel Protection workshop at the Miranda Shorebird Centre (9-11 September).
New Zealand dotterel at Opoutere
"The NZ Dotterel Watch Programme on the Coromandel would not be the success it is without the many dotterel minders on the Peninsula who give up their time to help these endangered birds during the breeding season" says John Gaukrodger, DOC's Hauraki Area Manager.
NZ dotterels have a preference for nesting on the sandy beaches of the eastern side of the Peninsula. Predator control has begun for this season at key dotterel breeding areas along this coast using traps to target hedgehogs and stoats - the main predators of NZ dotterel eggs.
It is important to keep your dogs under control or on a leash when near dotterel breeding areas, eggs and birds are lost each season to wandering dogs. Cats also pose a threat to the survival of eggs and chicks keep them indoors at night if you live near a beach with dotterel.
NZ dotterel are an endangered NZ shore bird, found only in the northern half of the North Island. The Coromandel Peninsula has around 300 NZ dotterel, this population would be in decline if not for the protection given by the many dotterel minders on the Peninsula.