Police were called in after vandalism of a significant NZ native Dotterel nesting site at Waihi Beach.
Police were called in after vandalism of a significant NZ native Dotterel nesting site at Waihi Beach.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has spoken out after vandals targeted one of the country’s largest nesting colonies of endangered dotterels at Waihī Beach.
Police have been called after the vandalism of the nesting site, which resulted in a number of birds going missing, was discovered on Christmas Day.
One of the birds included a newly-hatched chick named after local conservationist and lifelong bird enthusiast, 101-year-old George Clark - the father of Helen Clark.
Over the past four years, a group of Waihī Beach residents have been taking care of the endangered native Northern NZ Dotterels - the birds are deemed “more at risk” of extinction than the brown kiwi.
Dot Watch, of which the former prime minister is a member, protect the dotterel and its habitat at Waihī Beach.
In the written statement, Dot Watch said this year had seen the largest nesting colony of the dotterels in New Zealand situated at the north end of Brighton Reserve, with an “unprecedented” number nesting in one small area on the southern slope of Brighton Reserve.
“A double cordon has been erected, with signage asking residents and visitors to keep dogs on leads, to tread carefully and to respect this endangered species,” the statement said.
“Residents have even taken great lengths to relocate their cats over the five weeks of summer [critical nesting period] in the vicinity or keep them inside at night.”
Due to the “seriousness of this type of vandalism and the fact that nests had been destroyed, and a newly hatched chick called ‘George’ could not be located, the police had to be called.
“Volunteers put in hundreds of hours every year to help protect the species, to have someone come and destroy all that hard mahi [work] in a short time, is just mindless disrespect”, the statement said.
Disturbing protected birds and destroying nests is an offence under the Wildlife Act 1953, which can result in a prison term and/or a fine of up to $100,000.
The vandalism was discovered by volunteer Chris Sloan as she went to conduct her usual nest monitoring.
“There was no sign of the newly hatched chick George and some of the birds were missing. I didn’t have my phone, so had to try and put back the cordon by myself – something at least three volunteers would have done,” Sloan said.
In the statement, George Clark said he was “extremely upset” by the news.
”Our native species are fighting a tough battle against many predators, and only the dedicated efforts of local people who care, give our endangered NZ dotterel any chance of surviving.
“This is an atrocious act of total disregard towards our precious species, and it saddens me beyond belief. I am 102 in March, and I have never heard of anything like this happening at Waihī Beach before,” he said.
Dot Watch team members Helen Clark and her 101-year-old father George on dotterel watch patrol at Brighton Reserve in Waihi Beach. Photo / Dot Watch
In the statement, Helen Clark said threats posed to the dotterels had been “overwhelming” and not only from introduced mammal predators.
“It has been a constant battle to protect the birds, with the added challenges of some people using the nest cordons as football goals, and dotterel eggs being destroyed by golfers and golf balls and now this.
“Dot Watch is determined to see that these endangered birds have a chance to survive, and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that and stop this behaviour.”
Clark said Dot Watch was " very thankful’ to the Waihī Beach community and visitors who rallied to help protect these birds and hoped this incident of vandalism “would not happen again”.
Dot Watch coordinator Pippa Coombes said she and other members of the group were “absolutely devastated by this mindless vandalism”.
Coombes said this included Chris Sloan who spent countless hours monitoring the birds and while also caring for family members.
“We won’t know the full extent of the damage until the first week of January when our nesting pairs’ eggs are due to hatch. This is no minor matter as this mindless vandalism could well have caused irreversible damage by compromising the entire colony,” she said.
Coombes said the Waihī Beach colony may be small in number but it was “hugely significant” in regards to the estimated 2500 population in NZ.
Any disturbed nesting birds that did not return to their nests meant their eggs either were destroyed in the sun or their chicks got too cold to survive, she said.
Coombes said the police had been “amazing” after they responded to Dot Watch’s complaint within five minutes and were out patrolling the area, checking CCTV footage and also talked to locals and visitors about possible sightings of the offenders.
She urged anyone who had any information about the vandalism to come forward police.
Waihī Beach swells from 4000 to 25,000 for the five weeks of summer at the most critical time during the Dotterels breeding season, the statement said.
In collaboration with the Dot Watch team, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Department of Conservation have carefully considered how these endangered birds would successfully fledge chicks when an overwhelming number of visitors hit the beach over the summer.
A police spokesperson said the police received a report on Christmas Day of damage to the nests and cordons at the Brighton Reserve dotterel colony in Waihi Beach as having happened some time overnight.
”We have made initial inquiries in the area which have included asking people for any potential CCTV footage and if anyone has any information that may help they’re asked to please get in touch with police.”
Helen Clark’s advice for visitors and residents:
· Be mindful of signage about protecting dotterels, and leash dogs at least 50m from nest sites
· Keep companion cats in at night within 2km of a nesting area.
· Keep your distance (50m) from these birds and nest sites
. If dotterels are incubating eggs and leave the nest, their eggs can get too hot or too cold
