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Watchful eyes help raise rare dotterel chicks

The official Dotterel Minders have also been taking photos – providing an almost daily record of the dotterels’ activities and development. Photo, Neil Davies.

The team of volunteers looking after the rare nesting dotterels on Manly Beach have had a busy time over summer, supported by Auckland Council, Jenny Hanwell of Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird, and a number of others with specific dotterel expertise. The pair at the eastern end of the beach hatched two chicks, which successfully fledged, thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the support of the public and fencing that provided a clearly marked refuge. The birds were banded as part of a national programme to identify individuals and their movements, which will help uncover more about dotterels and their habits. The chicks were marked ESA and ESB and the male parent was banded ESC – the female parent was flagged EDS last year. ESB appears to have left the area, while ESA remains with its parents and may do so for some time yet – if it does leave, it is likely to be at about 10-12 weeks old. The flags can be seen with binoculars or high zoom camera lenses. If people see birds with flags on, anywhere they go, they can report them to Birds New Zealand. The fence came down last week, once both chicks fledged. Dotterels typically form post-breeding flocks from late January, generally peaking around March. However experienced dotterel minder Gwen Pulham, who has been advising the Manly volunteers, says that with good quality breeding sites becoming less available (due to building, competition from other species and humans) some birds are staying at their breeding sites all year round to defend them. Both of the Manly pairs have done this in the past year. Over the summer, several other dotterels visited the beach, with up to 10 birds being seen at a time. Hanwell says the volunteers’ dedication has been amazing. There are now 174 members of the Big Manly Dotterels facebook group. She says the vast majority of local residents have been incredibly supportive, with most people keeping well clear and showing great interest in the birds and the dotterel minders’ work. However, she says it’s unfortunate that some don’t appear to care. “Volunteers have witnessed some close calls with loose dogs chasing the birds, and it’s a shame that there is insufficient resourcing for Council to properly manage the dog control bylaws at this beach – regardless of the dotterels,” she says.

West end pair not successful

Two of the three chicks hatched by the dotterel pair at the other end of Manly Beach died soon after hatching. The third chick initially seemed ok, but failed to develop and died in December. Jenny Hanwell of Forest & Bird says busy Manly Beach has become home for dotterels, with risks and challenges, as people and rare wildlife share space. There is a chance to create a special haven for this rare species. What is needed? • Education – the community have been fascinated by the story of “their” dotterels. The volunteers walking the beach daily have done a great job of spreading the word in person and online – as well as the fantastic support these birds have received from Hibiscus Matters and other media. The volunteers have learned so much as well and have been so good at sharing that knowledge. • Greater enforcement of dog walking bylaws. Dotterels have vulnerable chicks over the summer and the restricted dog walking times give them quiet time to feed during the day. Hanwell says the group saw just one visit by an enforcement officer, and were told that this is an underresourced part of council services. “Many people simply don’t know the rules, and a reminder by a volunteer is enough. However others ignore the signs, and without enforcement this will continue to be the case,” she says. • Ongoing support from local volunteers – join the Big Manly Dotterels facebook group and find out how to play a part – there’s a role for everyone and it’s a very welcoming group. • Some volunteers would like to see parts of Big Manly Beach formally designated as shorebird protection areas, however this is a complicated process. • Overall what it will take to see this successful breeding take place again is ongoing support from the community and a willingness to share the beach with the endemic wildlife that would have inhabited the place in larger numbers before people were here. “The species is recovering thanks to conservation efforts and the work of communities like this one, but this means they will spread out further – and what a wonderful thing that is.”

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