Little birds beating the odds

PERILOUS TIME: One of the Ahipara dotterels on her nest at Ahipara. PICTURE / KAREN MACDONALD

Ahipara's resident dotterels are having another good summer, so far, but are still battling long odds according to local woman Jackie Klever.

She and her husband Doug, who are two of the endangered bird's most committed champions, were rejoicing last week that one pair had produced two chicks, and had their fingers crossed that they would survive until they fledged.

"That takes about six weeks from hatching," Jackie said, adding that their chances would improve significantly if vehicles stayed below the high tide mark, keeping clear of the sanctuary running west from the Kaka Street beach access.

That message bore repeating, she said, given that the nests, little more than scrapes in the sand, were "right in the line of fire," the sand at Mapere particularly being torn up by bikes, quads and four-wheeled vehicles.

The birds were currently "running around" between the sanctuary sign and the blue pou inside the Tuturiwhatu Pukenui Punanga, but were "all over the place."

"We also have a pair by the Mapere Block and another pair in front of the Korora Street park, so we're hunting for more eggs. Please keep a keen eye out for them. Who knows, we could break our record of two chicks in a year," she added.

She also acknowledged the efforts local couple Karen and Rob MacDonald were making to protect the birds, and especially the chicks.

Paul Steele said a clutch of eggs was lost over Labour Weekend when skurfing in the stream prompted the parents to abandon the nest.

Anyone who finds eggs is asked to call Doug or Jackie Klever on (09) 409-2120 or (021) 900-555.

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The dotterel was once widespread in New Zealand, the only place where it is found, but has been reduced to an estimated population of around 1700, making it more endangered that some species of kiwi. A handful of birds have been resident at Ahipara for some years and are now successfully breeding there, but the colony is fragile, mainly thanks to vehicles in the small area where they nest and raise their chicks.