Protecting the dotterel

Protect our dotterel: Tolaga Bay Area School Hoturangi class learnt about dotterel nesting habits and made signs to warn beachgoers to watch out for the native birds. Pictures supplied

Tolaga Bay Area School students have created signs to remind beach-goers to watch out for New Zealand dotterels/tuturiwhatu while on the beach.

Teachers have been showing children at the school what impacts the slash and movement on the beach have on tuturiwhatu/dotterel nesting habits.

“There has been a lot of mobilisation on the beach which has made people concerned for the dotterels,” Tolaga Bay Area School teacher Richard Tuhaka said.

Hoturangi class has been learning the basics about dotterels nesting and how vehicles and dogs have the biggest impact on their nesting habits.

A video on the school's Facebook page shows students putting signs around slash that is still on the Tolaga Bay beach.

“Be careful where you drive on the beach, we love our dotterels,” one students said.

Dotterel nest on beaches all along the East Coast and Tolaga Bay residents are fortunate to have them nesting on their doorstep at the mouth of the Uawa River, Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Jamie Quirk says.

New Zealand Dotterel build their nests in scrapes on beaches, which makes them vulnerable to an array of threats.

“They are susceptible to predation from pests like rats, stoats and hedgehogs,” says Mr Quirk.

“Human behaviour can also pose a risk, including uncontrolled dogs or vehicles, which might cause birds to abandon nests or can actually destroy them.

“On top of this, high tides can swamp nests and, in October, equinoctial winds can bury nests with sand,” he said.

This adds up to the poor old Dotterel having a lot of obstacles to overcome on its way to successfully breeding.

“Some of these we can control,” Mr Quirk says. “Trapping programmes help minimise the risk of predation.

“People can also keep their dogs under control and be conscious of where birds are nesting and give them space.”

Tolaga Bay Area School students have made signs that identify the areas people need to stay away from to maximise the dotterels' opportunity to successfully breed.

“These signs are colourful and easy to spot and are a great example of local people having local solutions,” Mr Quirk says.

“While we can't do much about the tide and wind, if we manage things such as predators and people we can continue to enjoy the endearing New Zealand dotterel nesting on our beaches successfully.”