Surveyors at Pōrangahau Beach found it had the second-highest number of indigenous bird species across Hawke's Bay as part of a survey commissioned by the regional council. Photo / Supplied
A survey of Hawke's Bay coastal bird species counted more than 32,000 - and found the region had a healthy population.
Surveyors on behalf of Hawke's Bay Regional Council went out by foot or boat, covering 321 kilometres from the bottom of the Hawke's Bay's coast at Whangaehu up to Mahanga.
They recorded the presence and number of all birds and marine mammals seen in each 1km section along the coast, providing a regional-scale baseline measure of the diversity, distribution and abundance of birds along the coast.
The survey also provided population estimates and detailed distribution maps for the region's coastal bird species.
Regional Council scientist marine and coasts Becky Shanahan said the survey was a great benchmark and gave a clear picture of the state of Hawke's Bay's coastal birds.
The team surveyed 65 estuaries and lagoons showing native species thrived the most in these environments, as well as on inshore islands and along sections of coastline with mixed rocky shore and sandy beach habitats.
It found 79 bird species, 72 per cent of which were native species.
Sadly, 35 per cent of these native birds are ranked as either nationally threatened or at risk due to habitat loss and degradation, predation, impacts from other human activities and climate change.
Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) supported the highest diversity of indigenous birds, with 33 species and 3,356 individuals counted.
The Pōrangahau Estuary had the second-highest number of indigenous bird species, with 24 species and 1,311 individuals, while the Maungawhio Lagoon had the third-highest number of species, with 22 species and 420 individual birds.
Bird species seen included Arctic-breeding and endemic shorebird species, such as bar-tailed godwit (kuaka), ruddy turnstone, banded dotterel (pohowera) and ngutu pare wrybill (ngutu pare).
Ecologist Nikki McArthur, who led the survey, said the Hawke's Bay coastline was an important breeding and foraging ground for many native birds.
She said the count showed a massive increase in the numbers of banded dotterel (tuturuwhatu), up from 86 in 2011 to 222 this year.
McArthur said this was a "direct result" of conservation interventions through pest control and managing human disturbance.
"It's rare for any part of the country to see such a strong recovery by a threatened species, and it's so cool to see it here in Hawke's Bay.
"It's a credit to the groups that care for coastal habitats, including the Department of Conservation, the Regional Council, Cape to City and community groups."
The Regional Council plans to share the results with the community through hands-on workshops at the Wairoa Taiwhenua on December 2 from 6pm-7.30pm, at Waitangi Regional Park on December 3 from 9am to 11am and at the Aramoana woolshed at Shoal Beach on December 5 from 10am-12pm.