Cautious celebration over new arrivals

NEW FAMILY: One of the dotterel parents stands guard while Ahipara's three new chicks look for their lunch. PICTURE/DOUG KLEVER

Doug Klever isn't popping the champagne cork just yet, but he is quietly jubilant after finding three brand new NZ dotterel (tuturiwhatu) chicks within the sanctuary at Ahipara.

Doug, who spends a great deal of time watching over the birds, part of a national flock believed to number around 1700, which makes the species nationally vulnerable, said three chicks from one nest was almost unheard of.

"The female usually produces three eggs but generally only two will hatch, so this is great news," he said.

"They are safely within the protected area, so all people have to do is stay away from them and they should be fine."

There was a second resident pair at Ahipara, but it wasn't known whether they had nested. In the event of mishap, not uncommon thanks to dogs and vehicles, and the birds' habit of nesting in a scrape in the sand within reach of a very high tide, they could lay three or four clutches of eggs a year.

Three pairs had been recorded at Ahipara last year.

People were generally leaving the birds alone, Doug added, but some were still curious and went looking for them. Signs had been erected, and he hoped that six pou, which were removed from the beach for safe keeping over winter, would be returned by Te Rarawa before Christmas.

"The situation here is really fragile," he said.

"The biggest threat is dogs, followed by the danger of being run over by vehicles while they're feeding. It's important that they not be disturbed while they're feeding, because constant interruptions will delay the chicks' fledging (which, all going well, should take six or seven weeks).

"They are fairly safe within the protected area, but we have another problem at this time of year with people collecting driftwood for bonfires.

"There is a lot of driftwood in the protected area, and it serves a very important purpose," he said.

"When danger threatens the chicks dash for the nearest cover and freeze, until their parents sound the all-clear, so we would really like to see it left there.

"All we ask is that people stay out of the sanctuary and leave the birds in peace, but all we can do is ask. We have no control over what people do."