DOC's work with New Zealand fairy tern/tara-iti
NZ fairy tern sitting on a nest
Previous conservation efforts
In 1983 the number of fairy terns at Mangawhai and Papakanui Spit dropped to an alarming all-time low of 3-4 breeding pairs.The Department of Conservation (then the New Zealand Wildlife Service) stepped in and initiated protection. A successful population turnaround resulted. This was probably due to the introduction of wardens and the fencing of nests.
Protection has continued until the present day. The number of pairs rose to 7 in 1993. Since 1997, between 6 and 9 pairs have bred each season until 2005:
- 2006-7: 10 - 12 pairs
- 2007-8: 10 pairs
- 2008-9: 10 - 12 pairs
- 2009-10: 8 pairs
Successful management techniques
Thankfully, additional funding in recent years has allowed for much greater protection and monitoring.
A successful management technique utilised in the conservation of the NZ fairy tern is the employment of full-time wardens. Wardens offer an efficient response to emergency situations. In recent years a warden has been employed on a full-time basis at each of the breeding sites.
The duties of wardens include: monitoring breeding attempts, maintaining fences around nesting sites, nest translocation, predator identification and control (including video surveillance), egg and chick manipulation, public education, and law enforcement. Volunteers play a big part in monitoring and surveillance to assist the wardens.
Recovery Plan in action
The latest Department of Conservation New Zealand Fairy Tern Recovery Plan was approved in 2005. The plan sets in place a series of steps that will promote the recovery of the tern. It also outlines different management options, and a work plan.
The Long-term vision of the plan is:
- 'To increase the population of NZ fairy tern, improve their conservation status from Category A (endangered) to Category B (threatened), and expand their breeding range back into parts of their former range.'
The short-term goals for the next five years are:
- To prevent the extinction of the New Zealand subspecies.
- To increase the breeding population by 25% by 2015.
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