It was a ‘wild ride’ for Auckland’s threatened New Zealand dotterel population last breeding season as Mother Nature unleashed some powerful weather events.
Of the 172 pairs monitored by volunteers across 61 locations, 74 chicks were fledged giving a regional productivity for the season of 0.43 chicks per monitored pair.
Auckland Council’s Senior Conservation Advisor, Ben Paris, says the cyclone and other significant storms over the summer had a major effect on the breeding season.
“Just like with people, the immediate impact that comes after a storm strike is often negative."
“Birds and other animals are adaptable because they've evolved in these dynamic coastal landscapes. The new or changed habitat a tropical storm produces can sometimes be beneficial but not in this case."
“So, for at least 74 chicks to make it through though, is very impressive! While some community groups who manage and monitor New Zealand dotterel sites across the region may feel disappointed, it is important to realise these birds do have 'bad years'.
“On average, most years Auckland hits the average breeding number showing just how effective our dotterel minders are.”
The Department of Conservation’s most recent New Zealand Dotterel Recovery Plan, says management at a site is considered ‘effective’ if productivity averages 0.5 chicks fledged per breeding pair per breeding season (or higher), over a 3-year period or longer.
This was the highest number of monitored breeding pairs we have had reported for a season and the highest number of locations covered. While the numbers might sound notable, it is the lowest productivity rate recorded in Auckland over the past 10 years.
