Tuturiwhatu, or the Northern New Zealand dotterel, breeding season is in full swing.
As urbanisation squeezes their natural habitats, these birds are seeking refuge and finding homes in multiple empty construction and retail sites across the city instead of beaches, their more natural habitats.
NorthWest Shopping Centre, Bastion Point, Wynyard Quarter, Pt England and QEB Stadium are all playing host to families of dotterels. And because their nests are difficult to see, they are in danger of being damaged by people, vehicles and dogs traipsing through the sites.
With only around 2000 birds left, senior Biodiversity Advisor Ben Paris says Council is working hard on keeping dotterel safe in the urban environment to give them the best chance of survival.
So if you see dotterel in open spaces, get in touch with our team at biodiversity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz so we can keep them safe by erecting warning signs.
Here are some ways you can help dotterel survive:
At the beach
- watch where you walk and try to keep below the high tide mark
- keep dogs on leashes and out of prohibited areas
- don’t take vehicles or quad bikes onto beaches where birds are known to be nesting
- leave the area if you see a dotterel looking like it has a broken wing (sign nest nearby)
In the urban environment
- if walking through empty parking lots and paddocks keep an eye out for them
- don’t intrude on their nesting area, give them space if they start making noises
- undertake pest control around your home and business
Watch the video at 1 News.
