John is an authority
on NZ Dotterels and explained how although they have been doing well the future
is not good due to funding cuts to DoC. There is a direct correlation between
how they are managed to how well they increase their population. He also pointed out that most of the
present population are found on the East coast and that Auckland’s East coast
is the very area under threat of subdivision and competition with other
activities.John also covered the Rena disaster. They removed half of the population to the safety of aviaries built nearby then waited until after the clean-up to return the birds. This is apparently a first on a world scale. Birds usually either being cleaned up after the event or relocated to other areas.
After Johns engaging talk I headed in the rain for the hides to see the many bird congregating on the shell banks.
With the poor light conditions the only photos I could take were of this plant called Batchelors buttons, Buttonweed, Cotula coronopifolia growing behind the old hide on the waterlogged shell bank. I am quite familiar with this plant as it grows on the margins of the lagoon at Tuff Crater.
With the poor light conditions the only photos I could take were of this plant called Batchelors buttons, Buttonweed, Cotula coronopifolia growing behind the old hide on the waterlogged shell bank. I am quite familiar with this plant as it grows on the margins of the lagoon at Tuff Crater.