A New Breeding Season

Just a quick spring update to let you all know that the tūturiwhatu/NZ dotterel have started to nest and are sitting on eggs at the moment. There are two pairs nesting on the Weiti chénier, including the ever reliable flag family (CXE) at the south end and another pair at the north end. This is the northern pair’s second attempt as the first nest was destroyed by people walking over it. Unfortunately it was outside the roped area. If you can make sure that you keep below the high tide mark then nests will be safe and if you do walk above it, look where you place your feet. There are two pairs of tōrea pango/ variable oystercatcher that are close to nesting but haven’t laid eggs yet. The kuaka/godwit flock has numbered around 200 this year with almost 300 in early November when the juveniles started arriving in numbers.

There are also two pairs of tūturiwhatu on eggs at Karepiro, EDT nesting on the beach near Dacre’s cottage and one pair in some recent plantings in the new housing development. It isn’t unusual for tūturi whatu to nest on vacant sites in Auckland with birds regularly breeding in Albany and Onehunga, but it sure makes my life more difficult. Fortunately Danny and Jeremy keep an eye out and let me know what’s happening. One nest was made far too close to the high tide mark and was washed away. The ever reliable torea pāngo are probably nesting too. The chénier at Okura has a pair of torea pāngo in residence, but there’s no sign of the tūturiwhatu pair. I suspect the spit no longer has suitable nesting sites, and will need some shell/sand build up to tempt the birds back.

Isn’t it hot!