NZ Dotterel

 

Dotterels are an endangered species and only found in New Zealand with an entire population estimated to be between 1,500 - 1,700 individuals.  NZ's unique wildlife evolved for millions of years without mammalian predators. As a consequence they have adapted to conditions that provide them little protection (e.g. flightlessness, nesting on the ground) from introduced creatures like cats, stoats, dogs and rats.

Dotterel eggs - they are highly camoflagued
and can be easily destroyed by vehicles,
pedestrains, dogs and predators like cats and hedgehogs.

What you can do:

• Please respect dog bans and keep dogs well away from nesting areas. Dogsfrequently kill birds they find on a beach e.g. blue penguins and dotterelchicks.
• Dotterels nest between August and February - in many regions as on Waiheke, these breeding sites will be fenced off.
• Pease do not walk over or linger near these areas.
• Please teach children about the importance of nesting areas and keep them away from nests/chicks.
Please take any litter with you and enjoy!

Waiheke is home to many bird species; pukeko, banded rail, pied stilts, variable oystercatcher and south island oyster catcher, white faced heron, wrybill, kingfisher, swallow, banded rail, spotless crake and dotterel. Seasonal visitors include godwits and sandpipers.  Other birds seen flitting through the bush include; fantail, tui, silvereye, grey warbler and kereru. At night you can hear the morepork (native owl).

 

 

 

 

Te Matuku Bay Marine Reserve

Orapiu Bay, Waiheke - the walkway along the coast to Te Matuku can be accessed from Orapiu Bay.

Te Matuku Marine Reserve was formed in 2005 as a response to the environmentally significant nature of the area and totals 690ha.  It is made up of salt marsh/mangroves, sand spits, estuary and tidal flats.  The name Te Matuku comes from the Maori word for the NZ bittern 'Matuku', an elusive bird species which inhabit wetlands.  NZ bittern and other wetland and coastal birds are threatened by the drainage of swamps for farmland and development. Sediment from development and erosion covers coastal marine life with a layer of silt, affecting breeding and feeding.

What are the benefits of marine reserves?
Marine resreves provide valuable areas where marine life can have a chance to regenerate and prosper. Once an area has time to rejuvenate the surrounding areas also benefit, as the overflow of marine species spread outwards.
Reserves act as important nurseries for marine life and provide future generations of marine species to a region.

While there can be controversy when a marine reserve is proposed for an area, the fact is that around the globe, marine reserves boost fish stocks. In time fisherman and communities directly benefit from the abundance of reserves. With dwindling fish stocks a real problem worldwide, marine reserves are more important that ever.

Marine reserves also provide opportunities for education and research.
For further details, regulations and guidelines visit:
www.doc.govt.nz
www.seafriends.org.nz

The great kauri forests on Waiheke were felled for farmland 150 years ago. The bush surrounding Te Matuku and Whakanewha Regional Park has regenerated over the last 15 years. Pockets of older forest remain throughout the island and magnificent trees that are hundreds of years old can be seen along walking trails in the park.  Within the park the Tarata track provides an interpretative trail and phamphlet on the plants and animals that can be seen  as you walk.  This is a great way to encourage children to learn about their surroundings, have fun and participate in a walk!

 

Remember, many native birds nest on the ground because they did not evolve with land based predators - which means they have no innate ability to change the way they live.  They have not had time to adapt to the new threats. These threats (humans,cats, dogs, stoats) have only been in NZ for a few hundred years - NZ was isolated for millions of years!