New nesting areas for our most endangered bird

 

New Zealand’s most endangered bird, the tara iti (fairy tern), will receive a boost to their upcoming breeding season with the creation of three new man-made shell nesting sites in Waipu.

The operation is funded by The Te Arai and Mangawhai Shorebirds Trust and is supported by local hapu Patuharakeke, Refining NZ and Skywork Helicopters.

“The Te Arai and Mangawhai Shorebirds Trust, Te Uri o Hau and Boffa Miskell have partnered with DOC through a MoU to support the Tara Iti Recovery Program,” says Linda Guzik from the Shorebirds Trust. “Other than predator control, habitat enhancement is the most important action that can be taken to ensure the tara iti’s survival according to the subject matter experts.  We are collaborating and supporting these two priority management strategies and believe they will have the most immediate and positive impact on the breeding success of the tara iti population.”

The new shell patch breeding sites will create three safer places for the Tara iti to nest on, protecting them from tidal inundation and sand blow. 

In the past we’ve had nests impacted from high winds, which means the parent birds can’t find their eggs, and king tides washing the nests away,” says Troy Makan, Tara iti Recovery Group leader. “The new sites will be placed in the rear of the dunes, providing more protection for the chicks and their parents.” 

The creation of new shell patch breeding sites is part of a wider three year plan developed by the Tara iti Recovery Group which was formed earlier this year. The plan hopes to include the development of further shell patches across all tara iti breeding sites.

These shell patches will be created by transporting 130 tonnes of locally sourced shell into new, safer, sites by helicopter. 

“Support for our most endangered bird by community groups and local hapu and iwi is essential for their survival. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of The Te Arai and Mangawhai Shorebirds Trust to get these new shell nests created and the ongoing work of the recovery group,” says Lou Sanson, director general DOC. 

“Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust is pleased to support this kaupapa, we consider this to be a contemporary exercise of our kaitiakitanga, helping to protect tara iti, a taonga species. It also provides opportunities for our rangatahi to be trained and gain valuable experience in conservation work,” says Juliane Chetham, Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Trustee and co-convenor Resource Management Unit.

Tara iti are critically endangered with the total population around 35-39 birds.

Shell nesting material is lowered by helicopter to the new breeding site. PHOTO/MEL TITO

New shell patch breeding sites will create safer nesting places for the tara iti. PHOTO/DOC