Campaigner hopes to make NZ dotterel Bird of the Year
Forest & Bird’s annual Bird of the Year competition has opened for voting, with more than 50 birds vying for the top nod.
Auckland Council Senior Biodiversity Advisor Ben Paris is championing the cause for the New Zealand dotterel (tūturiwhatu). He tells us more about this special little bird, how we’re helping conserve it and why it deserves to be our Bird of the Year.
What makes you so dotty for dotterels?
As rare as our North Island brown kiwi, these charismatic shorebirds are a key part of Auckland’s summer. However they need their space to look after their youngsters, who hide cryptically in the sand above the high tide mark. Despite their many threats from people, dogs and predators, there is a very passionate community across Auckland dedicated to looking after these special shorebirds.
What is happening around Auckland to help the NZ dotterel population here?
The Auckland Biodiversity team runs a NZ dotterel minders network, where community volunteers and practitioners support and advise each other while conducting monitoring and pest control to help shorebirds all over Auckland. This passionate group works with Auckland Council so we can get a regional overview of how the population is doing.
How would becoming Bird of the Year help dotterel conservation efforts?
Apart from the being the biggest upset since the 2015 kokako email scandal, it would raise awareness of this great local bird, and help summer holidaymakers to keep an eye out for our NZ dotterel to give them the space they need to bring up their young. You can help by being a 'wet-sand walker' (keeping near the water at the beach), being a responsible dog owner (don’t let your dog chase birds at the beach), and being a responsible beachgoer (by keeping out of marked off nesting areas).
More about the NZ Dotterel
- Two sub-species: northern NZ dotterel and southern NZ dotterel.
- Northern NZ dotterel found on or near the coast around much of the upper North Island.
- In urban areas like Auckland they often breed a little inland – on urban parks, mall car parks, golf courses, motorway verges, beside airport runways, building sites, quarries.
- Adults use distractions, such as pretending to have a broken wing, to try and lure predators away from their nests.
- Predation, disturbance and loss of habitat have led to a decline, but NZ dotterel numbers are on the rise in Auckland and Coromandel due to community efforts.
About Bird of the Year
Now in its 12th year, the competition raises awareness for New Zealand’s much-loved native birds and the threats they face.
It’s one of Forest & Bird's most popular events and attracts more than 20,000 votes each year.
Make your vote for Bird of the Year here before 5pm, Sunday 30 October.