DOC's work with Chatham Island oystercatcher
Banding Chatham Island oystercatcher,
Chatham Islands
Past conservation efforts
Past oystercatcher management has been piecemeal. Conservation in the early 1990's focussed on predator trapping, and fencing to limit stock access to nesting areas. Some nests were moved away from the high tide mark. Nest manipulation may have helped to increase hatching success. Artificial incubation was also attempted, but did not increase overall productivity.
Management strategy in action
In 1998 the Department of Conservation began an intensive Chatham Island oystercatcher management programme.
This plan involved:
- Predator control
To protect 16 oystercatcher territories on northern Chatham Island. Modification of fences to exclude stock from managed areas.
- Nest relocation
Movement of nests away from the high tide mark.
- Dune restoration
This was undertaken to provide more habitat.
- Video monitoring
Nests were monitored with video cameras. Some of this footage was even packaged for Chatham Island television, giving helpful publicity to the conservation effort.
In 1999 a joint management/research programme commenced. So far this programme has been very successful, and includes the following outcomes:
- New breeding pairs have been established.
- A significant number of chicks has been produced.
- Many chicks have been colour banded to aid future monitoring.
- Research involving the monitoring of breeding success, nest losses, and bird movements, has been 'more successful then originally anticipated.'
The long-term vision of the Chatham Island Oystercatcher Recovery Plan is to:
'Restore the natural ecology of the coast so that the oystercatcher population is maintained at or above 250 birds with minimal management.'
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