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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
NZ Dotterel
Slightly better perpective this time by taken by getting to ground level lying on wet sand.
The New Zealand Dotterel is an endangered species found only in this country. It was once widespread and common but there are only about 1500 birds left. This serious decline in numbers is due to a combination of habitat loss, predation by introduced mammals and disturbance during breeding.
NZ Dotterels are shorebirds, usually found on sandy beaches and sandspits or feeding on tidal estuaries. They are largely pale-grey on the back, with off-white underparts which become flushed with rusty-orange in winter and spring. They have a prominent head, large dark-brown eyes and a strong black bill.
NZ dotterels can be hard to see, because their colouring merges effectively with the background of sand, shells and dune vegetation in their environment. Their distinctive ‘chip-chip’ call is often heard before the birds are seen.
The NZ dotterel is now confined to two areas. The Northern NZ dotterel (C.o.aquilonius) is found in suitable habitat from Kawhia northwards on the west coast, and from North Cape southwards along the east coast of Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty, and as far south as Mahia Peninsula.
The Southern NZ dotterel (C.o.obscurus), a population comprised of about 200 birds, survives on Stewart Island and nests on mountain tops.
Within the Auckland and Northland regions, NZ dotterels nest on beaches including Mangawhai, Waipu, Te Arai Stream, Poutawa Stream, Pakari River mouth, Omaha Spit, Tawharanui, Papakanui Spit, Beehive Island, Waiwera, Gulf Harbour, the Wade River mouth, Tapora, and beaches south of Auckland city and on Waiheke and Great Barrier islands.
In late summer, the birds leave their breeding sites and congregate in post-breeding flocks at favoured estuaries for the autumn and early winter. These flocks are socially important; birds which have lost partners during the breeding season can find new ones, and young birds pair for the first time. Some areas where these flocks occur are at Mangawhai (150 birds), Waipu (30-40 birds), Omaha (70-80 birds), Tapora (40-45 birds), Wade River (20-25 birds), and Whangapoua Estuary on Great Barrier (40-50 birds).
Thanks to DOC http://www.doc.govt.nz/ |
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