Miranda News Prime Minister joins The Flock - Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird ...
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Pukorokoro
Miranda News
Journal of the Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust
November 2016 Issue 102
Prime Minister
joins The Flock
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 1
Shorebird snippets
New shore guide gets to show visitors
around her childhood playground
Wendi Lane, a member of the family
that cared for the Robert Findlay Wild-
life Reserve over so many years, will be
this season’s summer shore guide . . .
and a few days after starting she was
still fizzing with excitement.
Partly that’s because being at the
hides brings back happy memories of
‘an amazing childhood running around
outdoors in Miranda . . . a fantastic
playground, with waterfalls, swamps,
creeks and mudflats to explore.’
When she left school Wendi worked
in a bank in Pukekohe and then spent
17 years using the UK as a base to ex-
plore the world. But she retained ‘an
interest in the natural world, stemming
from Mum and Dad’s stories and the
National Geographic magazines that I
loved reading’ so when the time came
to return to New Zealand she was keen
to get involved in conservation.
An opportunity to do that came
when she saw an article ‘about a guy
on the banks of the Whanganui Riv-
er combining farming, tourism and
conservation all in one operation. It
sounded like the place for me, so I got
in touch, went down for a visit, fell in
love with the place, handed in my CV,
said “pick me!” . . . and he did!’
GOOD CATCH: Wendi Lane celebrates the demise of another predator.
Wendi worked at Blue Duck Sta-
tion at Whakahoro for seven years, stints, turnstones, Caspian Terns, a Annual accounts
during which time it grew from an Little Tern, a bossy sandpiper, golden Treasurer Charles Gao was unable to
operation where she was the only plover and all of the other usual sus- present audited annual accounts to the
staff member to one with five full time pects. I especially took to the Wrybills AGM because of the complexity of the
members of staff and eight volunteers scurrying around like cute little crabs. new legal requirements. However, the
over the summer months.’ ‘I can hardly wait to share my new- accounts have now been signed off by
During that time she looked after found knowledge with all the people the Trust’s auditors and are available
the lodges – there are now five – ran who turn up at the hide and centre as for inspection at http://www.miran-
the conservation side with its over 500 well as learn things from them. I also da-shorebird.org.nz/archives/3258.
traps, drove guests over the station look forward to meeting PMNT mem-
and told them about the farm, local bers who have contributed so much Building bridges
Maori and European history and the over the years and continue to do so.’ The annual working bee at the Cen-
conservation project. tre – traditionally held prior to the
Since deciding it was time to move Progress in China mid-winter pot luck dinner – was a
on Wendi has been to the Chatham The Governor of Hebei Province has great success.
Islands, graded kiwifruit, house sat, used an address to the 2016 Beidaihe As well as giving the Centre a
bought her first home – a caravan – and Coastal Wetlands and Waterfowl Sem- much-needed pre-spring clean, the
now started work with PMNT. inar to announce that the Luannan big team of volunteers also did major
‘I am very excited about being the Coast in Bohai Bay, a crucial stopover jobs like replacing the two bridges over
shore guide for the summer and recon- site for our Red Knots, will be formally wetlands running into Widgery Lake,
necting with my childhood stomping protected. The Governor also said he digging a trench for an overflow pipe
ground and learning as much as I can,’ was considering protection for other from the water storage system and
she says. ‘I’ve seen godwits, knots, important wader sites in Hebei. taking advantage of Keith’s absence
2 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102
Recent sightings
at Pukorokoro
Arctic Migrants
c4000 Bar-tailed Godwit
4 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Hudsonian Godwit
c1000 Red Knot
2 Pacific Golden Plover
9 Turnstone
2 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
2 Marsh Sandpiper
4 Red-necked Stint
New Zealand species
200 Wrybill
c.350 SI Pied Oystercatcher
4 New Zealand Dotterel
2 Banded Dotterel
WORKING BEE (top) cleaning out the garage; (bottom) replacing one of 68 Royal Spoonbill
the bridges. Photos / Jim Eagles 3 White Heron
overseas to give the garage and storage able to flush them periodically and 500+ Black-billed Gull nesting!
shed a huge clean-out which saw piles control weed growth. Caspian Tern
of material taken to the tip. Elsewhere on the block, particular- White Fronted Tern
ly between the Stilt Ponds and the tidal
Pied Stilt
Land update channel to the east, is a large area of
Since purchase of the Robert Findlay weeds, particularly Carex divisa and Hybrid Black Stilt
Wildlife Reserve was finalised in June fennel. Several management options Variable Oystercatcher
the Trust has started work on drafting for this area are being considered.
a management plan. The first priority Generally it is intended to avoid
is to improve flow to and from the grazing if possible, but it may be
Stilt Ponds. At present the ponds are necessary to use it for a brief period
holding too much water for too long to reduce existing growth. Periodic
which is good for the growing number rough mowing is a possible longer
of Black Swans seen there this year, but term option.
not for shorebirds.
In association with Living Water, What’s on at the Shorebird Centre
a hydrology report was commissioned
and land surveying carried out to 6 November, OSNZ Firth of Thames Wader Census
establish levels. Preliminary results Contact Tony Habraken (09 238 5284) for details.
present several options. The first and 18-28 November, Devonport Flock
immediate step is to repair the flap 2500 handpainted shorebirds on Windsor Reserve in Devonport.
gate and ensure the culvert under the Official opening 1pm on the 18th. Shorebird Film Festival 2pm on the
track into the carpark is clear. The next 20th in the historic Victoria Cinema.
stage will be to investigate options for
improving flow from this area to the 3-4 December, Wader Identification Course
Pukorokoro Stream. The best way to learn what all those fascinating birds out on the
The Trust is also considering cre- mudflats actually are. Further information from the Shorebird Centre.
ating an additional outflow channel 5 March, Farewell to the Birds
through to the tidal creek north of 10am Researcher Rachel Withington Wrybill reveals what Wrybills eat
the old hide. The ultimate aim is to be when they’re visiting the Forth of Thames.
able to control water levels in the Stilt
14 May, Annual general meeting
Ponds, keeping them low enough for
Your chance to have a say in the running of the Trust.
roosting shorebirds while also being
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 3
Lower lying areas provide potential I have never seen so many people to Membership records will in future
for expanding the salt marsh zone, so be happily bum deep in mud. Tens of be maintained at the Shorebird Cen-
manipulating water levels wherever thousands of seedling mangroves were tre and the magazines will be put in
possible will be used with this in mind. cleared in a few hours.’ envelopes and labelled at the home of
North of the existing hide it is proposed Thanks to the work, he said, ‘the Kevin Barker and Olga Brochner in
to establish a new hide facing west bay in front of the hide is now man- Auckland.
across the Stilt Ponds. grove-free and perfect for waders’.
Unfortunately, the bay was also Pay Noddy
Mangrove removal ‘perfect for mangroves to flourish so
There was an amazing turnout for a it will be an ongoing battle and we’ll
special working bee to remove the thick have to do it all over again next year.’
band of mangroves which had sprung
up along the foreshore in front of the Taking a break
hides over winter and were threatening Len Taylor is stepping
both to ruin bird viewing and to block down after 13 years
the important sightlines of the waders. as membership secre-
Armed with a mangrove removal tary and, together with
permit from Waikato Regional Council wife Pat, organising
– granted just in time for the work to be the distribution of the A recent arrival in the Shorebird Cen-
done before the first migrants arrived quarterly magazine. tre is Noddy, a beautifully painted
– dozens of people turned out to crawl An aircraft main- shorebird who gratefully accepts coins
through the mud and pull out plants. tenance engineer by and drops them into a donation box.
Tim Brandenburg, North Island profession, Len ran Noddy is the result of a suggestion by
project manager for Living Water, the the operation with the Wendy Hare, transformed into reality
partnership between DOC and Fonter- same precision he lav- through the skills of Ray and Ann
ra which has invested significant sums ished on Air NZ aircraft. But now, he Buckmaster, and he is proving hugely
in PMNT’s work in recent times, took says, age and health mean it’s time for popular. During the latest holiday
the opportunity to get involved in the him to take it easy. programme at the Centre he raised
dirty side of the work and was one of When Len announced his decision $24 and has since continued to attract
the last to leave the mud. the PMNT Council paid tribute to his donations. By popular demand Noddy
Afterwards, organiser Adrian Rie- huge contribution in doing a complex will be visiting the Devonport Flock
gen described it as ‘a brilliant effort. and important job so well for so long. event 18-28 November.
MUDLARKS: (clockwise from top right) mangrove infestation before; and after; Louisa Chase; Trudy Lane; Wendi
and Florence Lane; Living Water project manager Tim Brandenburg. Photos / Sietske de Jong, Ray Buckmaster.
4 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102
ABOUT THE BIRDS: Prime Minister John Key takes a break from painting a godwit to ask Adrian Riegen about
The Flock project while Conservation Minister Maggie Barry talks to Jim Eagles about the knot she’s decorating.
The Flock
National leaders join the shorebird project
Four brightly coloured plywood water taxi and the family got busy.
shorebirds painted by Prime Minister Twelve-year-old grandson Jamie put a
John Key and Conservation Minister gold undercoat on the plywood godwit
Maggie Barry will be among the 2500 the PM wanted, wife Chris prepared a
which will roost on Windsor Reserve purple knot for Barry and Jim did the
in Devonport from 18-28 November. SIPO and Wrybill.
The Devonport Flock will represent For a few bucks Chris got a couple
the biggest gathering of PMNT’s The Minister: the nationally vulnerable Red of brushes from Ike’s Emporium and,
Flock project which has been hugely Knot, which should benefit from the laden with birds, half-a-dozen Resene
successful in spreading understanding agreement signed earlier this year be- test pots, a blue ice cream container,
of the amazing stories of our shore- tween New Zealand and China to pro- a marmalade jar and an old tea towel,
birds and the threats to their future. tect shorebird habitat; and the Wrybill, they headed for the museum.
All 10 schools on the Devonport which could be greatly helped by the Joined by chair Gillian Vaughan
Peninsula, plus community groups Government’s recently announced and deputy-chair Adrian Riegen – un-
like Devonport Community House, Predator Free NZ 2050 policy. fortunately Ray and Ann Buckmaster
U3A, 60s Up, Community Workshop, The ministerial painting session who have been the driving forces in
Rotary, Holy Trinity Church and arose because Barry originally agreed The Flock were sick – the team set up
Devonport Peninsula Trust have got to open the Devonport Flock but due their painting station in the museum’s
behind the campaign by painting birds to a hiccup over dates with Auckland Hall of Memories and waited.
and listening to talks about shorebirds. Council found she would be overseas As is usually the case with such
Key and Barry added their support on the big day. Event organiser Jim events, messages came in saying the
during a visit to Devonport Naval Mu- Eagles suggested she might instead PM was running late and the time for
seum where Barry, as MP for North like to paint a bird for The Flock and bird painting would have to be cut
Shore, had arranged for the birds to perhaps to ask the PM to do so as well. from 15 minutes to under 10.
be decorated. Jim was thrilled when that idea But suddenly Key was striding
The Prime Minister particularly was taken up but a bit strung out by through the door where, spying
asked to paint a Bar-tailed Godwit but, the fact that when Barry’s office got young Jamie, he stuck out his hand
not wishing to overlook our endemic in touch to arrange the painting he and said, ‘Hello, what’s your name?’
shorebirds, he also signed a nice blue was Kokako monitoring on Tiritiri Jamie explained that he was there
South Island Pied Oystercatcher. Matangi Island with ferries cancelled with his grandparents and that he had
Barry painted two birds particular- due to bad weather. painted the PM’s godwit.
ly relevant to her work as Conservation However, he got home in time by To make the most of the time Jim
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 5
HAPPY Council members Trudy Lane and
ARTISTS: Wendy Hare, helped by young rela-
John tions 12-year-old Florence and 4-year-
Key and old Everett, made lots of birds to put
Maggie on display. Then Trudy planted them
Barry in clumps around the hides.
proudly Meanwhile, Ray and Ann produced
display some brilliantly colourful birds which
their they fastened to the gate at the Centre
birds. to give visitors a warm welcome.
Film festival
Part of the Devonport Flock event will
be a Shorebird Film Festival in the local
Victoria Cinema.
At 2pm on Sunday 20 November
the cinema will be screening four
videos on migratory birds from the
world-famous Cornell Ornithological
Lab and one from Migration Produc-
quickly ushered them to the painting countries.’ tions, accompanied by expert com-
table, handed out birds, brushes Speaking for PMNT, Gillian ments from Keith Woodley and Adrian
and marker pens and they got busy said the gesture of support from Riegen. In adition three screenings
painting while Adrian chatted to the Government was extremely have been organised for local schools.
Key about The Flock and answered valuable. ‘It will certainly help our None of these videos has been
questions about the birds. Flock campaign with its advocacy shown on the big screen in New
Meanwhile Barry, who was bub- for shorebirds and coastal ecology in Zealand before and this is a one-off
bling with enthusiasm, quizzed Jim New Zealand,’ she said, ‘but just as screening so bookings are advisable.
about the Wrybill and how it would importantly it will give a huge boost See the theatre website www.thevic.
benefit from wiping out predators. to our work to protect those vital co.nz for details.
The two ministers got so involved shorebird stopover sites around the
in their birds that 10 minutes went Yellow Sea. Birds a Plenty
by, then 15, but they kept going. ‘To be able to present a photo of PMNT member Meg Collins coordi-
When the painting was finished the the Prime Minister getting involved nated six local schools to make around
PM insisted on being photographed in our activities is just incredibly 200 birds for the annual Birds a Plenty
with the PMNT team, then wanted helpful. In the work we do overseas, event at Ohiwa beach. The birds were
his picture taken with Jamie and to have a visible connection with the set up on the beach in front of Ohiwa
finally he and Barry posed proudly Prime Minister will give a huge boost Motor Camp and the plan is for them
with their artwork. to our prestige and make it much easi- to stay there through the summer
Afterwards Key posted several er to get our message taken notice of.’ holidays.
photos of his bird painting on Twitter Washed out
with the comment: ‘Putting our artis- Shorebirds everywhere Ambury Park Farm Day, in South
tic talents to good use for the The Visitors to the Shorebird Centre Auckland, regularly attracts 20,000
Flock - a creative project to highlight and the hides can now be assured visitors so it sounded like the perfect
the threats to shorebirds.’ Barry also of seeing plenty of fascinating birds place to spread The Flock’s message.
posted a photo and tweeted ‘With the whatever the state of the tide. On the big day the Lane sisters, Trudy
artistic PM raising awareness about
protecting our Shorebirds at Devon-
port’s excellent naval museum.’
In addition she issued a brief
statement saying: ‘I commend the
Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ WHAT
Trust on their work for shorebirds. I BIRD IS
have visited the outstanding Shorebird THAT?
Centre on the Firth of Thames on Trudy
several occasions, including with the Lane
Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong, plants a
who is also very supportive of these small flock
remarkable long distance migrants that of birds
we share. Late last year we signed a near the
Memorandum of Agreement between hides.
New Zealand and China to ensure the Photo /
protection of their habitats in both our Jim Eagles
6 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102
UNDER THREAT: This banner developed by Ray Buckmaster and Trudy Lane will play a key role at Flock gatherings.
and Wendi, plus shop manager Louisa to plant at Newdick’s Beach on World to Trudy Lane to join our main Flock.
Chase and educator Krystal Glen, set Shorebird Day; Karangahake School The rest were taken to roost around
off early in cars laden down with birds, held a Flock Day to display birds made a pohutukawa at the entrance to the
banners, tarpaulins and tables ready by the pupils and listen to a talk from marae with 12 real godwits looking
for fun. educator Krystal Glen. on from the nearby Blackpool Beach.
Alas, they arrived not to a bustle The welcome also included a powhiri,
of eager workers setting up go-karts, Island welcome a pop-up workshop from the library
woodchopping, sheep dog trials and A planned Welcome to the Birds on and a celebration of godwits.
horse carts but a soggy ghost town Waiheke Island’s Piritahi Marae went
sagging under torrential rain and high ahead despite the death a few days Southern front
winds. Nevertheless the team got stuck beforehand of Christopher Wragge, The South Island wing of The Flock,
into the work of setting up a display the husband of event organiser Ping organised by the Braided Rivers Aid
and Louisa, in full wet weather gear, Lee-Wragge, who felt sure he would group, has been doing amazing work.
planted the birds in the damp grass. have wanted it to continue. Flash Flocks have been set up in plac-
Unfortunately the weather then The welcome was inspired by a es like the Environment Canterbury
got worse and, Trudy recalls sadly, Keith Woodley talk on ‘Godwit Diplo- headquarters in Christchurch, Rakaia
it became obvious that the day was a macy’ earlier in the year and by social Salmon Café, a park in Amberley,
washout. ‘We informed the organizers media news of The Flock. Fifty ex- Waimakariri Regional Park, Kaikou-
of our impending departure, repacked tra-large godwits – sleeping, standing, ra Memorial Centre, Musterer’s Hut
the cars as best we could, and by 9am preparing to fly and taking off – were Café in Twizel, Ashley Gorge, Meth-
had exited the grounds. Maybe better cut out and painted by members of the ven i-Site, Oxford Farmers’ Market,
luck next year?’ Hauraki Classroom adult education Waimakariri District Council offices,
group at Waiheke Library with help Rangiora Vet Centre and even Christ-
Plenty of converts from the Waiheke Community Shed. church International Airport. Along
As The Flock has gathered momen- Four of the birds were presented the way the birds have attracted plenty
tum there has been a constant stream
of groups and schools hearing of the
idea - mostly from social media - and
wanting to join in.
Among the recent converts are:
Waitakere Kiwi Conservation Club
ordered 12 birds so they could paint BIG BIRDS:
them and set up a local display; Pa- The Hauraki
parimu Primary School in Hunua Classroom’s
and Peninsula Primary School in Te birds wait to
Atatu are making their own flocks; the be called on
Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust to Piritahi
in Christchurch has five schools help- Marae for
ing build a flock for the annual Fare- Waiheke
well to the Godwits in February; years Island’s
3 and 4 from Te Puke Primary School Welcome to
took 76 birds and some shorebird signs the Birds.
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 7
of attention and media publicity for the BRIGHT
message that our shorebirds need help. AND
BEAUTIFUL:
Off to church Charmaine
The Flock has even gone to church. On Braatvedt
the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the and
patron saint of animals, Jim was asked members
to address two services at Devonport’s of her
Holy Trinity Church on the subject team with
of shorebirds. Afterwards church some of
members decorated about 120 birds their birds
for the Devonport Flock. The vicar, roosting
Charmaine Braatvedt, said there had outside
been a hugely enthusiastic response. Holy Trinity
‘We could have done with extra birds Church.
because everyone wanted to paint one Photo / Jim
and some wanted two.’ Eagles
Works of art to Tomoko Ichikawa of the EAAFP ment that it was the first to become
When Miranda Farm Gallery held an Secretariat in Incheon. The folk there involved in The Flock programme.
exhibition of artwork painted by Der- were thrilled to get their parcel and Ray and his team arrived and set
ek Onley for the 2015 revised edition sent back photos of them making their up Kaiaua’s own birds, plus a selection
of Field Guide to the Birds of NZ, Flock. More recently researcher An- from other schools, at the entrance.
proprietor Annie Wilson thought The dreas Kim sent word that an eco-class ‘As we worked, first the principal
Flock would be the perfect accompani- in the Muan Mongtan Middle School arrived and then, shortly after, a rush
ment. As a result visitors to the gallery was also making a flock of birds. of teachers, parents and children.
were greeted by a cluster of beautifully ‘What a buzz! The children were
painted birds including several of those Flock Oz busy running through the Flock to find
produced by Oropi School. That pro- The Flock continues to expand across their birds and then checking out the
vided a special thrill for Liam Tully the ditch. In South Australia local work of children from other schools.’
who called into the gallery with his woodwork groups, the South Oz
family, and found the bird he made on Scrollers and Western Woodies, are Flocking to Kaiaua
display outside. getting behind the Adelaide and Mt The biggest gathering of The Flock to
Lofty Ranges Natural Resources date - 518 beautiful birds - was held
Flocking to the Chathams Management Board to help create a on the foreshore at Kaiaua on the day
The Flock looks like making an ap- flock for the second Adelaide Shore- before the Welcome to the Birds at the
pearance in one of the New Zealand’s birds Festival at St Kilda. In addition, Shorebird Centre.
most isolated outposts. German stu- Grace Maglio, who learned about the Members of The Flock team plant-
dent Hendrik Schultz, who visits the project at the Australasian Shorebird ed the birds made by the three local
Chathams to study skuas, has been in Conference, has been in touch about schools – Kaiaua, Mangatangi and
touch to find out how to make birds setting up a wing in Broome in Western Waitakaruru – and then added other
for local children to decorate. Australia. birds from all round the country to
create a stunning display.
South Korea doubles up Flash Flocks The gathering attracted a steady
There may now be two little flocks in The first in a planned tactic of Flash stream of passersby stopping to see
South Korea. A while ago David Law- Flock appearances was organised out- what it was all about. Several of the
rie sent a small parcel of cut out birds side Kaiaua School as an acknowledge- local children who made the birds
brought admiring families along to see
ON SHOW: their artwork. A busload of Chinese
Flock team visitors being taken to the Centre by
members Estella Lee pulled up and got their pho-
(from left) tos taken with the colourful gathering.
Ray and Ann The Flock even atttacted ther ulti-
Buckmaster, mate compliment when several South
Louisa Island Pied Oystercatchers and a few
Chase and Bar-tailed Godwits landed on a nearby
Jim Eagles shellbank to admire their more bright-
with the ly-coloured relations.
Kaiaua
Flock. Further updates
You can get more updates on the
Photo / fast-growing world of The Flock at
Wendy Hare http://theflocknz.blogspot.co.nz/.
8 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102
STANDING GUARD: Philip Moll with some of the new interpretative signage at Shoal Bay. Photo / Jim Eagles
Discover Auckland City’s ‘new Miranda’
If all you know of the Devonport Peninsula is the sandy beaches to which visitors flock it might seem a strange place
to hold a shorebird event. But when Jim Eagles went for a walk on the mudflats of the less popular other side of the
peninsula with the area’s self-appointed guardian Philip Moll he found . . . shorebirds galore.
Philip Moll’s love affair with Shoal Bay and a flock of birds flew over him. ‘I el, Caspian Tern and Wrybill. And it
and Ngataringa Bay, which run along didn’t have a clue what they were, said more common birds that could be
the western side of the Devonport but then they landed down quite near found there in large numbers included
Peninsula, began about five years ago to me, and they were Wrybill. And I South Island Pied Oystercatcher and
with a highly enjoyable birding trip to muttered under my breath, Shoal Bay Pied Stilt.’
the chenier plains of Miranda. . . the new Miranda.’ Not long after, by one of those glo-
After returning to his home at This inspired him to do more in- rious coincidences with which Philip’s
Hauraki Corner he wandered down ternet research about Shoal Bay which life seems to be dotted, while he was
to Shoal Bay, looked at the mudflats initially found nothing about the birds doing volunteer work on Motuora
and shellbanks, and thought, ‘What’s there. ‘Little Shoal Bay, yes. Shoal Bay, Island he bumped into Department
different about them? They look the nothing. Except hidden away on the of Conservation entomologist Chris
same as Miranda.’ Council website was the fact that it was Green. They got talking about Shoal
So he looked the subject up on the a site of significant wildlife interest. Bay and it turned out that Chris had
internet and on the Landcare website ‘That notice also stated that it was actually written that ‘site of significant
he found an article about chenier the habitat of several at risk birds in- wildlife interest’ designation in 1987
plains. ‘It said,’ he recalls, ‘they are a cluding the Banded Rail, New Zealand and it was officially adopted a few
very rare feature on a global scale and Dotterel, Reef Heron, Banded Dotter- years later. ‘So that’s 25 years ago and
Miranda is the only place where they
are continuing to accumulate shells.
But they are also found at, yes, you
guessed it, Shoal Bay. They are also
found at other places like Stillwater
and Pollen Island. But we have them
right here not far from my house. And
I thought, well, if they’re important for
birds at Miranda why wouldn’t they be UP NORTH:
important here?’ Wrybill in
Another of what Philip calls his Shoal Bay.
eureka moments about Shoal Bay came Photo /
when he was on one of its shellbanks Philip Moll
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 9
SHOAL BAY; (clockwise, from
top left) Royal Spoonbill;
Bar-tailed Godwits; Caspian
Tern; South Island Pied and
Variable Oystercatchers.
Photos / Philip Moll
those birds were at risk then and most it a site of international importance also because the motorway makes a
of them still are so nothing much has under the Ramsar Convention. That great barrier to predators.
changed.’ significance is underlined by the fact But last year Philip came across a
Since then Philip has been doing that the only known photo of North pair of New Zealand Dotterel show-
his best to see that things do change Island and South Island Dotterel ing signs of nesting on a shellbank on
by learning more about what birds are together (at far right)was taken by the other side of the bay, not far from
found in what he calls Great Shoal Bay, dotterel researcher John Dowding in his home, and persuaded Auckland
photographing them to help convince Shoal Bay. Council to put up a taped fence with
sceptics about the importance of the One of the dotterel Philip photo- signs warning people, and especially
area and working with groups like the graphed on the shell banks in the bay dog-walkers, to stay away. ‘This made
North Shore branch of Forest & Bird had YGOW bands and, as he later a huge difference. We got what are
and Auckland Council to give it greater discovered when he met John Dowding possibly our first eggs away from the
protection. at a conference, it is a research bird motorway side. Two eggs disappeared
The number of species he has sight- banded by John himself in November and possibly could have hatched. A
ed there continues to grow. ‘The other 2003. At the time this bird had a nest third egg seemed to go past the incuba-
day,’ he tells me, ‘I got a call saying at Warehouse Way – a road at the head tion period so the birds may have been
there was a Royal Spoonbill down of the bay which leads, of course, to disturbed.’ That, he believes, showed
in Ngataringa Bay. I went and had a the headquarters of The Warehouse that ‘if we put up those fences and signs
look and, sure enough, there it was. So – and, he notes, ‘it hasn’t moved very and talk to the people who live near
that’s another species.’ far since.’ the spits or go walking there, we can
From the birds he’s identified Philip Warehouse Way is a very popular get more chicks. And the New Zealand
has compiled – reflecting his childhood roosting site for dotterel – Philip has Dotterel will be a bit less threatened.’
reading of Enid Blyton – a Famous Five a photo of 18 New Zealand and eight The others in his Famous Five are:
and a Secretive Sixth of birds. ‘I haven’t Banded Dotterel in the office car park Banded Dotterel, which ‘also like
managed to get a Secret Seven yet.’ there – ‘because it is almost predator Warehouse Way, usually hang around
These are the birds that earned Shoal free and has great sightlines’. the car park at high tide and move out
Bay that DOC designation as a site of In fact, like many shorebirds, the on to the lawn when the car park fills
significant wildlife interest. dotterel prefer the motorway side up with cars. Then they head to the
Top of the Famous Five list is of Shoal Bay as a nesting area, partly shell banks in the bay and feed at low
the New Zealand Dotterel, not least because of the presence of half-a-dozen tide on the tidal mud flats.’
because with 10 breeding pairs and a artificial shellbanks created as part of Wrybill, which ‘come up north
total of 35 birds, Shoal Bay supports the project to add a busway to the around April after breeding and moult-
more than 1% of the species, making Auckland’s Northern motorway, but ing. I’ve seen flocks of over 100. They
10 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102feed at low tide in the estuary.’
Caspian Terns, ‘a beautiful bird.
I have seen as many as five roosting
and flying over Ngataringa and Shoal
Bays. But as far as I know there’s only
one breeding pair and they nest down
the motorway side’. The Reef Heron,
‘possibly my favourite bird with that
wonderful stealth bomber pose. I had
real trouble finding them. In May this
year I saw a Reef Heron from the mo-
torway overbridge but that’s the only
one I’ve seen in three years.’
The secret sixth, of course, is the
shy Banded Rail that ‘loves mangroves
. . . if you get rid of the mangroves
you’ll lose the rail’ and has been seen
in Shoal Bay, Upper Shoal Bay and the HAPPY HOME: (above) A shellbank protected by signs and (below) a North
adjacent Tuff Crater. Island NZ Dotterel (at left) meets its darker South Island cousin at Shoal
Other birds Philip has recorded in Bay. Photos / Jim Eagles, John Dowding.
Shoal Bay include White-faced Her-
ons, Variable Oystercatchers, which
successfully breed there, South Island
Pied Oystercatchers (he has a photo of
200 on a shellbank in Ngataringa Bay),
Black-backed Gulls, ‘which may seem a
nuisance but do a good job of cleaning
up the rubbish’, the ‘elegant’ pied stilt,
Bar-tailed Godwits (another photo
shows 118 godwits on a shellbank)
but to date no Red Knots. Pied Shags,
Little Pied Shags, Little Black Shags,
Great Cormorant, Kingfishers and
now the spoonbill. All in all there are
over 12 threatened or at risk species of
birds that are either resident or visit the dogs can go and where they can’t. If says, ‘and we’re hoping to spread it
estuary to feed rest or breed.When his there’s no signage saying what the rules right round the Devonport Peninsula.’
crusade to protect Shoal Bay started, are you can hardly blame dog owners if That’s all very encouraging but,
he recalls, one problem was ‘there was they go where they aren’t supposed to.’ he asks himself, does all that make
no signage telling you anything about Another recent step forward has Auckland ‘the most liveable city in the
this wonderful area and there was also been the establishment of bait sta- world for our birds? Well, they don’t
no signage saying where you can and tions around much of Shoal Bay and really require much at all. Just a bit of
cannot take your dogs’. Ngataringa Bay thanks to a campaign understanding. I think we’re starting
After a bit of gentle persuasion involving the Council and local volun- to achieve that. And there is room for
Auckland Council put up a couple of teers. ‘That’s really taking off,’ Philip plenty more birds.’
signs at strategic spots explaining the
importance of Shoal Bay to shorebirds Shorebirds – and others – in the heart of Auckland
and listing some of the species found Philip Moll, who lives near Shoal Bay, and Ngaire Mules, who overlooks
there and more recently it has added Ngataringa Bay, have compiled the following bird list for the area.
a few more.
The Council has also broadened its Bar- tailed Pied Shag Swamp Harrier Welcome
bylaws to restrict people from walking Godwit Great Cormorant Pukeko Swallow
dogs in nesting areas of the shell banks Red-necked Stint White-faced Heron Paradise Shelduck Blackbird
and the day I went for my walk with Wrybill Reef Heron Kingfisher Song Thrush
Philip it had just erected new signs SI Pied Red-billed Gull Fantail House Sparrow
explaining those rules. ‘That’s mar- Oystercatcher Caspian Tern Silvereye Chaffinch
vellous,’ he said. ‘It’s not that I’m out Variable White-fronted Tern Grey Warbler Goldfinch
to bag dogs. It’s just that if you have Oystercatcher Australasian Tui Yellowhammer
dogs running through areas where, say, NZ Dotterel Gannet Grey Teal Starling
dotterel are trying to raise chicks it’s Banded Dotterel Pied Stilt Spur-winged Plover Myna
not hard to imagine what will happen. Little Black Shag Royal Spoonbill Mallard Eastern Rosella
And it’s important that it’s clear where Little Pied Shag Banded Rail Black Swan Barbary Dove
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 11Mysterious booming bitterns’ threat
status upgraded to ‘nationally critical’
Bitterns have been an exciting part
of the Pukorokoro landscape in
recent years and researcher Emma
Williams told the mid-winter
potluck dinner what an increasingly
rare experience that now is.
There was bad news – but possibly
also a silver lining - from Australasian
Bittern researcher Emma Williams
when she addressed the mid-winter
potluck dinner: bitterns, she told
members, were about to be upgraded
from ‘nationally endangered’ to
‘nationally critical’.
That is the highest threat ranking,
and reflects the parlous position of this
mysterious, secretive and fascinating
bird, but hopefully it may lead to more
resources being put into learning how
best to safeguard its future.
Emma said the Australasian Bittern
was found only in New Caledonia,
Australia and New Zealand. ‘A decade
ago there were thought to be less
than 1000 adult bitterns each in New
Zealand and Australia, and fewer than
50 in New Caledonia.
‘However, recently Australia has
lost large numbers of its population,
and the New Caledonian population
is thought to have vanished. New
Zealand is therefore an important
place for the survival of the species.’
The New Zealand population is
almost certainly declining, too, but
precisely because the birds are so A FINE ROMANCE: Researcher Emma Williams with one of the bitterns
mysterious we don’t know much about who have stolen her heart. Photo / Emma Williams
them . . . a situation Emma has spent
the past few years trying to rectify. given the names of human crooners bitterns brought into care by members
Originally from England, she like Bing Crosby and Prince Tui Teka of the public were starving and those
started researching bitterns in 2009 – and as a result was able to track that survived long enough to be
under a Department of Conservation their seasonal movements. The most released seemed to have trouble finding
contract which subsequently expanded remarkable finding was that when the food through the winter and died of
into work for an MSc and now a PhD lake dried up in summer all the males starvation around June.
at Massey University. left and one travelled 15km down a That should come as no great
In that time she has focussed watercourse looking for food. surprise because 90% of the wetlands,
mainly on developing methods of Bitterns are, it seems, prepared to where bitterns live, breed and feed,
monitoring cryptic species like bitterns, go a long way in search of something have been drained, with disastrous
in particular how best to catch them in to eat. One female released at the consequences for all the species that
order to fit transmitters. Waimakariri Estuary was found used to live there. ‘Bitterns favourite
These days she is based at Lake 100km away and, sadly, it was dead food,’ Emma points out, ‘is eels which
Whatuma, near Waipukurau, in from starvation. are also considered to be under threat.’
Hawkes Bay, where in the 2014 season Indeed, lack of food is clearly a Fortunately, bitterns are
she caught six males – which because major reason for the species’ decline. opportunistic feeders happy to snack
of their amazing booming they were Emma reported that many of the sick on the likes of small fish, insects and
12 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102HARD TO FIND: Bitterns are difficult to research because they are masters of disguise. Photos / Emma Williams
frogs. However, their ability to catch them to live and feed in and there were out what bitterns need habitat-wise
their prey is severely affected by poor opportunities for this to happen. ‘so we can make this information
water clarity when wetlands become For instance, one of the main publicly available so that anyone who’s
degraded, and also by water depth sponsors of her research work is interested in creating, managing or
when landowners dig deep drains Ducks Unlimited which, although it restoring a wetland can do so with
or use wetlands as holding ponds, is primarily aimed at creating wetland bitterns in mind.’
creating a situation where bitterns habitat for ducks, was also interested That’s a very interesting point when
have, as Emma puts it, ‘the same in making the wetlands suitable for you consider that PMNT now owns a
chance of catching their prey as a bitterns. ‘Duck hunters are very happy wetland in an area where bitterns have
drunk man has of catching a teddy bear to provide an environment that is good bred successfully in recent years.
in the pub with a crane claw machine.’ for bitterns so long as it is still good You can find out more about Emma
Unfortunately bitterns also have for ducks.’As a result, part of her Williams’ work at https://facebook.
characteristics that suggest they may be research is now focussed on finding com/swampbird.research
highly vulnerable to wetland predators.
They have small clutch sizes, they
only lay once a year, only the female
incubates and she is much smaller that
the male, the female also has to leave
the nest to feed which leaves her eggs/
chicks very vulnerable . . . and, unlike CAUGHT:
their secretive parents, the chicks are A bittern
very smelly and noisy.’ caught in a
It all sounds rather depressing and cage trap
one member asked Emma if trying has to put
to save our bitterns was a waste of up with the
time. No, she replied, it was not a attentions
waste of time. Certainly there were of the
challenges. But there were also reasons paparazzi.
for optimism. Photo /
The key to the bittern’s survival Emma
lay in providing suitable wetlands for Williams
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 13OLDTIMER: ZPE is the oldest known Bar-tailed Godwit seen in New Zealand. Photo / Andreas Kim
The fascinating godwit stories
behind those engraved leg flags
One of the most exciting experiences in birdwatching is to spot a flag, send the letters to Adrian Riegen and then
get back from him the story of all the bird’s sightings around New Zealand and the world. And, as Adrian explains,
such sightings also provide researchers with valuable information.
What do Bar-tailed Godwits with rate. Some sightings turn out to be sightings, 8,986 of these came from
engraved white flags on their leg at incorrect, although just how many is just five observers, who spent long
Pukorokoro Miranda and elsewhere difficult to determine. lonely hours with eyes straining
tell us about the birds? Quite a lot Approximately one in 50 sightings through their scopes to read three
actually, as will become evident as we received is of a combination of letters tiny letters on distant white flags.
proceed. Each and every sighting is that we have not used, so perhaps the Several of these it must be said were
important so please keep sending them same amount are incorrectly read, in the employ of Phil Battley who was
in, even if it is only one bird. which is easily done with combinations trying to determine departure dates
For instance, has anyone seen the like AVW or AWV, especially in windy of individual birds. However, the five
godwit with flag ZPE since it was last and heat shimmery conditions. observers shall remain anonymous
sighted on 11 March 2016? Because if There are also several thousand lest they be thought of disparagingly,
you have then you have been looking partially read sightings but we will but their contributions have been
at the oldest known Bar-tailed Godwit ignore them for now. To avoid enormous.
In New Zealand. We first banded it confusion with other letters or The remaining sightings have
in 1993 as an adult bird. Meaning it numbers, there are five letters we don’t come from 152 other observers and
hatched no later than 1990 (the flag use, F, G, I, O and Q. their sightings are no less valuable.
was added in 2012) and so at the time But even if two sightings in 50 are One day an observer recorded a flag
of writing that bird, if it is still alive, incorrect there are more than enough combination at Miranda but thought,
is at least 26 years old. good sightings to give us a good as it was banded at Miranda it would
By 30 June 2016 we had received understanding of the movements of not be of real interest. How wrong can
11,749 sightings of 893 individual godwits around New Zealand and the one be? That bird was seen for several
birds from the 941 we have flagged, East Asian-Australasian Flyway. days at a site in NSW but six days
which is an impressive 95% resighting More statistics. Of the 11,749 earlier had disappeared. We now know
14 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102WELL-TRAVELLED: BNM was first banded in Victoria and has since been recorded 46 times in either Miranda or
Apheado in South Korea. Photo / Andreas Kim
where it had disappeared to. Victoria on 27 February 1999 aged grounds of Alaska.
Pukorokoro Miranda has produced as a first year bird. The engraved flag The researchers were curious to
the most sightings with 9,251 and of was added at Miranda on 14 February know from whence it came, and a few
those 9,212 are of birds banded at 2009. It has now been seen 46 times at emails later the news of this sighting
Miranda. Foxton has produced 857 either Miranda or Apheado in South reached me. Within a few hours I was
sightings that I know about, and the Korea each year since 2012. able to inform them of ABN’s short
Manukau Harbour only 238, but few We have been able to add a flag history.
birds have been banded there. to eight birds banded with metal Then on 29 November 2015 it was
It is wonderful that so many people bands and a plain white flag some back at Miranda and I informed the
have contributed sightings and long years earlier, ZPE being a good Alaskans the same day. ‘Wow!’ was the
may it continue, as each sighting example. It was banded at Taramaire response, ‘their’ bird had successfully
strengthens our understanding of the on 17 October 1993 and remained completed another 30,000km round
godwit’s annual movements or lack undetected until 26 January 2012 trip migration. I’m sure those Alaskans
of movements, for the stay-at-homes. when it was caught again at Miranda will look twice at any godwits they see
This article only covers white engraved and the flag was added. Since then it in the future.
flags but there are also over 1,000 has been seen 15 times at Miranda and By far the most overseas sightings
sightings of other coloured engraved once at Apheado, near Mokpo in South have come from Yalu Jiang National
flags, mostly from Australia, to be dealt Korea, by Andreas Kim, who spoke at Nature Reserve in China, the site the
with in another issue of PM News. Miranda earlier in the year. PMNT has been working at since
The vast majority of the white Overseas sightings are of course 2004. Along with Bohai Bay, Yalu
engraved flags, 867 were flagged at particularly interesting and allow Jiang is the most closely watched site in
Miranda, with a further 48 at Foxton us to engage with many people in East Asia during northward migration.
in the Manawatu, 15 at Karaka on the other countries. The advent of emails Yalu Jiang is godwit central
Manukau Harbour, 10 at the mouth has helped immensely in sharing on northward migration with the
of Catlins Lake in Otago and one at information quickly. vast majority of the New Zealand
Whitford in East Auckland. Godwit ZBN is a fine example of population staging there. Several
Three of those banded at Miranda this. Flagged on 22 January 2015 as an Chinese university students are
were first banded in Victoria where adult it was seen once by Ian Southey undertaking a variety of studies at Yalu
a plain orange flag was used. These at Miranda on 6 March 2015. It was Jiang and record many flagged birds.
birds were upgraded to ‘NZ citizens’ then seen by some researchers on Atka, The Global Flyway Network with
with a white engraved flag replacing one of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on 6 Chris Hassell from Broome has a long-
the orange one. May 2015, where it had stopped briefly term project to monitor marked birds
BNM is one of these, banded in on its way from Asia to the breeding in Bohai Bay, particularly those banded
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 15PERSISTENCE PAYS: After 15 years Adrian Riegen finally spotted a flag at Pauanui. Photo / Adrian Riegen
in Northwest Australia and using at the banding site, compared to the migrated north. It was back at Pauanui
Bohai Bay on northward migration. 63% of overall stay-at-homes. again in January 2012 and was last
The Bohai is the key staging site for From colour bands and engraved seen there in February 2015. It could
Red Knot but is not a regular site for flags we know juvenile godwits move well have made Tairua its permanent
Bar-tailed Godwit and just one of our around the country and many juveniles New Zealand home.
birds has been sighted there. Of the banded in Victoria move to New One of the more interesting
208 individual birds seen overseas, 147 Zealand. Most of them will spend their juveniles is ANP. Banded at Foxton
(71%) were at Yalu Jiang. One godwit first three years of life in New Zealand on 30 October 2008 it has been seen
ANP has also been seen in Taiwan. before returning to breed in Alaska. at Miranda, Ohiwa Harbour, Tapora
What about godwit movements in They appear to use this time to check on the Kaipara Harbour and at Yalu
New Zealand? Adults are generally out the country before settling on a Jiang. Another, ANZ, banded the same
very site faithful and of the 893 spot which often will become their day at Foxton was seen there on 12
individuals seen, 595 (63%) have only preferred site for years to come. November 2008 then at Blueskin Bay,
been seen at the banding site. Another Around 200 godwits live in the Otago on 13 January 2009. Back at
155, for a total of 750 (79%) have Tairua Harbour on the Coromandel’s Foxton on 4 March 2010 and exactly
been seen only at the banding site and east coast and regularly roost on the one year later on 4 March 2011 it
overseas. beach at Pauanui, making it very easy was back at Blueskin Bay. It was seen
Just 41 (4.4%) have been seen away to look for bands and flags as they are exactly four years later on 4 March
from the banding site and most of used to people and allow quite close 2015 at Miranda.
those were still in the Auckland region approach. This site is only 50km from Some birds banded at the same site
where they were caught. A further 14 Miranda as a godwit could fly, and on are hardly ever seen while others are;
were seen away from capture sites and my regular visits to Pauanui I make a it seems on constant parade in front of
overseas and another 30 seen away point of looking through the flock for scopes. BED was banded at Foxton on
from banding site and then back again. flags. After 15 years of no flags my 19 November 2013 but has not been
Very few actually move to a different luck changed on 1 January 2011 when seen there since. However, it has been
non-breeding site permanently. I saw godwit AJL, so persistence pays seen twice on the South Manukau
That accounts for the adults but off eventually. Harbour and 26 times at Miranda.
the story of juveniles is somewhat This was not from Miranda but And finally in this roundup of
different. We have attached engraved from Foxton, where it was flagged engraved flag sightings, an adult
flags to 80 juvenile godwits, 51 at as a juvenile on 30 October 2008. By godwit flagged AJD at Foxton on 30
Foxton, 27 at Miranda and two at 2011 it was close to being an adult and October 2008 has been reported 63
Karaka. Sixty-six of these have been when I looked for it in June 2011 there times, although I suspect it has been
seen but only 26 (40%) have been seen was no sign of it, so I assumed it had seen many more times, at either Foxton
16 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102FAITHFUL: AJD was flagged at Foxton and continues to visit there and Whanganui Estuary. Photo / Paul Gibson
or its favoured summer retreat just up
the coast at Whanganui Estuary, where Number Years of
Paul Gibson keeps an eye on it each age
summer and takes some wonderful 266 8
photos as its plumage changes.
Other people at sites with small 222 9
numbers of godwits also monitor their 146 10
local sites and produce excellent sets
of sightings.
44 11
A question often asked is ‘How 26 12
long do godwits live?’ The engraved 24 13 A chance to see – and
flags help determine longevity but
survival rates is another matter as one 21 14 help – birds in China
must take into account other factors 18 15 China Coastal Waterbird Census Team, a small
such as birds moving to other sites and NGO on the Yellow Sea coast, is offering bird
not being seen. 17 16 tours of the area to raise funds for its work and
E7 was a great example as she 14 17 raise the profile of the amazing bird life.
spent most of her time unseen at Piako The first tour, on 11-21 April, will cost US$3000
11 19 for all accommodation, travel and guiding.
near Thames and perhaps only came
across to Miranda on big spring tides 10 20 It will visit the Jiangsu Coast where possible
such as occurred on the day she was sightings include Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nord-
9 21 man’s Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher, Great Knot,
caught. She was rarely seen until she
went into retirement at Maketu in the 8 22 Red Knot, Saunders’s Gull, Black-faced Spoonbill
and Reed Parrotbill. There will also be a trip to
Bay of Plenty. 7 24
From the engraved flags we know Wuyuan and Nanjing hills in search of birds like
that 439 of the birds involved reached
1 25 Blue-crowned Laughing Thrush, Masked Laugh-
at least 5 years old. Of those at least A GOOD AGE: ing Thrush, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Dusky
389 continued to at least 6 years old, The table above Fulvetta, and Chinese Bamboo Partridge.
and 334 reached at least 7 years of age shows the number of Shorebird Centre manager Keith Woodley says
and so on up to the oldest, which was Bar-tailed Godwits the tour is ‘a great initiative’ offering some highly
at least 25 when last seen. So keep an recorded as reaching desirable species at a relatively modest price and
different estimated will also assist the group’s excellent work in the
eye out for ZPE and maybe that record
ages. area. Inquiries should go to info@sbsinchina.com.
can be extended.
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 17UNDER THREAT: John Dowding with one of the few remaining Southern New Zealand Dotterel.
Southern Dotterel may be extinct in four years
John Dowding, keynote speaker at the Australasian Shorebird Conference in Auckland, delivered a grim message
to the assembled birders when he warned that without significant intervention the Southern New Zealand Dotterel
could be extinct within four years. Keith Woodley reports.
A unique New Zealand shorebird pop-
ulation could be extinct within four
years. Southern New Zealand Dotterel
numbers have been plummeting since
2010. This alarming situation was
outlined by John Dowding during his
keynote address to the Australasian
Shorebird Conference.
It is not the first time the population
has declined, but the difference this
time is that it is happening more quick-
ly and the reasons for it are uncertain.
Once distributed through much
of the country, dotterels disappeared
from the South Island following Euro-
pean settlement, with the last mainland
nesting record in 1881. Stewart Island
became the last bastion but even there
birds were not safe as predators – rats
and particularly cats – took their toll.
By the early 1990s there were just 25
breeding pairs.
Once management – primarily
predator control – started numbers DARKER: Southern dotterel in breeding plumage. Photo / Ian Southey
began to increase and by 2010 there
were nearly 300 birds. But since then them in places like the Coromandel Southern birds tend to be darker
the population has been in free fall. and coastal sites north east of Auck- and slightly larger than the northern
Many readers will be familiar with land. But the southern birds which birds. Plumage on the upperparts is a
Northern New Zealand Dotterels and now breed only on Stewart Island will darker brown compared with the more
the largely successful efforts to manage be less well known. mid-grey brown tones of northern
18 Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102birds (there is a photo of the two to-
gether on page 11). In breeding plum-
age the flanks and bellies of southern
birds tend to be a darker brick red
than the more orange red of northern
birds. Southern downy chicks are also
noticeably darker.
But the most dramatic difference
between the populations is where they
nest. The northern birds are coastal
and for them a simple scrape on a piece
of sandy beach or shell bank is suitable
real estate. Southern birds breed inland
above 300m. Their nests are lined with
much more material than is found in
northern nests, perhaps a strategy to
raise it above damp ground. Dotterel
eggs on Stewart Island are also signifi-
cantly larger and darker on average
than those of northern birds.
Not only are habits of the southern FAMILIAR FACES: The green shirted team of conference helpers.
birds quite different, their breeding
range is separated from the northern
birds by 1100 km, with no overlap in
Fascinating array of speakers
non-breeding range.
Buller described dotterels as ‘no- at wader study conference
where very plentiful, [but] dispersed
along the whole of our shores, fre- Every two years the Australasian Wad- Peng He who is a PhD student at
quenting the ocean beaches and sand er Studies Groups holds a conference Fudan University in Shanghai, came
flats at the mouths of all our tidal known as the Australasian Shorebird to the conference as the Mark Barter
rivers. It moreover inhabits the inte- Conference. It is usually held in differ- Awardee. Mark was a pioneer in the
rior, and appears to affect very high ent Australian state capitals and run flyway, searching almost the entire
altitudes.’ by a local group of shorebird people. Chinese coast of the Yellow Sea from
One hypothesis is that the ancestral In 2005 it was held in New Zealand the early 1990’s. He worked with
New Zealand Dotterel population was for the first time, in Nelson, and this Chinese students, encouraging and
a typical mountain plover, and north- year PMNT hosted the conference in guiding them, and was known to many
ern birds are atypical. having taken to Auckland on 1-2 October. as ‘Teacher Mark.’ After his death in
breeding on beaches as the population Thanks to the wonderful support 2011 the AWSG set up a fund to sup-
expanded northward because they of Unitec Institute of Technology we port a student, preferably from Asia
found no un-forested tops inland. Se- were able to hold it at their Carrington to attend these conferences. Peng has
lection then favoured paler birds and Campus. This worked very well with been studying the feeding behaviour
chicks nesting on paler substrates such an excellent theatre and two other of shorebirds at Yalu Jiang and talked
as sand and shell. rooms available to us. Just over 90 on this subject.
All of these differences in mea- people registered for the conference. Phil Battley put together the pro-
surements, plumage, habitat and be- We had a great team of people to gram of speakers and a fascinating
haviour, along with separated breeding organise the conference and field trips, range of subjects were covered.
ranges, led to recognition of two sub with everyone working on different Of particular interest were the talks
species. As the species was first named aspects of the event, so a big thank on studies involving light sensitive
from a specimen collected at Dusky you to all of them for making the geolocators, small devices that record
Sound in 1773, according to taxonom- conference very successful, in spite the light and dark, making it possible to
ic procedure that makes the southern copious amounts of rain that reminded determine approximately where a bird
birds the nominate species, with the the 40 or so Australians who attended was on any given day. The drawback
northern population a subspecies, giv- just why New Zealand is a green and is that the bird must be caught again
en the name aquilonius from the Latin pleasant waterlogged land. to retrieve the geolocators, something
for northern. The southern birds are There were 29 lectures over the most godwits are not keen to experi-
now Charadrius obscurus obscurus. two days covering a diverse range of ence twice and so there are still plenty
Southern dotterels represent a very subjects. John Dowding opened with of them walking around with geoloca-
important taxa in our coastal avifauna an excellent keynote address about the tors still on their legs.
which we cannot afford to lose. We status of New Zealand’s endemic wad- We also heard about the satellite
have written to the Minister of Con- ers. His address highlighted the issues tracking of the Grey Plovers from
servation requesting information on of habitat loss and the devastating toll Australia to Siberia, with some going
what steps are being taken to prevent the four-legged predators have on our all the way to Wrangel Island, off the
this imminent extinction. ground-nesting waders. north coast of Siberia. Phil Battley
Pukorokoro Miranda News | Issue 102 19You can also read
