January 13, 2014
Hapu helps manu return to Waikato coast
A protection and monitoring programme established by Ngati Karewa Ngati Tahinga Trust, the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council and volunteers has led to a return of endangered dotterel to Port Waikato’s dunes and foreshore.
Volunteer coordinator Karen Opie says several birds are now regularly seen at the beach and at Lime Stone Downs, further south.
DOC estimates that there are only about 1700 of the birds left in New Zealand.
Dotterels are vulnerable because they lay eggs near the high water mark where their nests can be easily washed away in storms or inadvertently trampled under foot.
They also face predation by dogs and cats roaming on the beach.
During the breeding season, which runs from September to February or March, parts of the Port Waikato beach has been fenced off to protect the nesting birds and eggs.
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