Breeding boost for critically endangered bird
Ask most people what a ‘fairy tern’ is and you’re likely to get an answer that relates to the latest moves on the TV hit ‘Dancing with the Stars’.
It is in fact a rare bird and New Zealand’s most critically endangered bird at that. There are only 40 fairy terns left in the world - all in New Zealand and every one of them in Northland. Now a breeding project to boost numbers is attracting help from local volunteers.
The birds are intensively managed by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation which has even appointed a fairy tern ranger, Abby Meagher to manage breeding sites in Northland’s Waipu and Mangawhai Wildlife Refuges. Her focus is to increase the population of the shorebird with the help of the local community. Abby says achieving this is only possible through the continued support received from volunteers at the sites who work with DOC to give the fairy terns the best breeding environment.
HISTORY AND HABITAT
NZ fairy terns were once widespread around North Island coastal areas and the eastern shores of the South Island but their decline can be attributed to a combination of habitat loss, predation and disturbance at the breeding sites. It is the smallest tern that breeds in New Zealand and the birds can be identified during the breeding season by their black caps, bright yellow beaks, orange legs, soft grey wings and white under parts. In non-breeding plumage the cap fades to a mottled black and white, and the bill and legs lose their brightness. Nests consist of small scrapes in the sand camouflaged amongst shell. They can be very difficult to see and easily stood on.
Chicks hatch after 21 days. At 19 days old chicks are banded with unique metal and colour bands and are sexed through DNA testing. The adult birds nest between October and February and even though 16 eggs were laid in Northland this past season, five chicks fledged, one from Waipu and four from Mangawhai (including the only female chick this season). The rest were either infertile eggs, early embryonic deaths or lost in bad weather as eggs or chicks. The main threats to the birds are stormy weather and predators such as cats, rats, ferrets, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, black-backed gulls and humans.
SHOREBIRD SUPPORT
As part of the fairy tern support programme, DOC Northland funds habitat restoration at Mangawhai Spit which has helped to create excellent nesting sites for fairy terns. Money is also invested in gaining advice from external specialists and scientists as well as purchasing field gear required for operational work. Each season wardens are employed at each site to erect and maintain shorebird fencing and monitor breeding pairs and the eggs and chicks. The wardens are also involved in advocating and educating the local community and visitors to the area, with the support of volunteers.
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