The Department of Conservation is reminding the public to be careful on and around the region's beaches at this time of year, especially around nesting sites.
DoC Hawke's Bay Operations Manager Connie Norgate says many of New Zealand's rare and endangered birds are currently raising their young in these areas.
"Right now, there are thousands of birds nesting on our beaches," she says.
"From the critically endangered black-billed gull or tarāpuka and New Zealand dotterel or tūturiwhatu, to the more common, but equally precious, white fronted turn or tara.
"These birds use camouflage as a defence mechanism, so the chicks and nests can be extremely difficult to spot."