New Zealand Fairy Tern / Tara-iti

With a population of less than 40 birds including just 10-12 breeding pairs,
Sternula nereis davisae, the New Zealand fairy tern, (NZFT) is New Zealand's
rarest endemic breeding bird.

News

NZ Post Issue Fairy Tern Coin

 

New Zealand Post have advised us that each year they issue an endangered species coin and this year’s coin will feature the New Zealand Fairy Tern!

 

The coin launch date is February 23 and the coin may be purchased from Post Shops from that date.

 

There will also be a Trade Me charity auction for the No. 43 Proof currency set:

 

NZ Post are generously donating all the proceeds from the auction to the New Zealand Fairy Tern

Charitable Trust. To purchase coins, read more here

Thank you, New Zealand Post!

 

Protection of the birds began in 1984

after the then Wildlife Service could account for only three or four breeding pairs. Management has continued under Department of Conservation (DOC) and intensified since 1991 lowering their risk of extinction within 50 years, but not eliminating it. (Ferreira et al 2005)

 

Breeding Season 2011-2012

DOC shorebird wardens for this season are:

 Campbell Rathe, in his fifth consecutive season and Kelly Smith,    both at Papakanui. Kelly has incredible outdoor skills!

 Rangi Zimmerman at Mangawhai is in her fourth (but not consecutive) season.

 Eliane Lagnaz is in her fifth consecutive season at Pakiri.

 Alison McDonald is in her second season at Waipu.

 

  

Continuing as NZ Fairy Tern Project Mangers are, for Northland Conservancy, Matiu Mataira and for the Auckland Conservancy,    David Wilson.

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Breeding ground reports for 2011-2012

As of 20 Jan 2012
Both pairs at Waipu laid single egg first clutches this season. The first nest hatched on 2 Dec and the second on 6 December. Both chickswere banded by Christmas. The parents are pictured here and the chick in the banner on the right. Thanks to DOC wardens and volunteers for this info and to Ali McDonald for the pictures.

Photo/ Ali McDonald

The trapping group have been doing well with trapping records showing mid to high number of rats and 2 cats have been caught on the refuge so far with no cat prints being seen by the wardens.  A lot of people are ringing in advising the presence of stoats and ferrets. The trap boxes have been loaned out to people in Waipu for trapping purposes.  During this period it is not uncommon to see these pests hunting during the day. 

As of 20 Jan 2012: There are two fully fledged chicks at Waipu.

 

At Pakiri, two eggs hatched on consecutive days, December 3 and 4.

As of 20 Jan 2012: There are two fully fledged chicks at Pakiri.

We have two chicks at Papakanui which hatched perhaps Sunday, December 4 – bad weather made it hard to tell.

As of 20 Jan 2012: Unfortunately both chicks were lost in adverse weather and there has been no re-nesting.

Mangawhai

As of 20 Jan 2012: Re-nesting has produced two chicks. Harriers are causing a few problems so DOC staff and volunteers are undertaking a harrier watch from dawn to dusk.

First egg for the season was laid byWilma ( in her 19th year of life) on Saturday October 29, 2011 and is the earliest recorded laying at the Papakanui site. The previous earliest date for a full clutch at Papakanui is November 2.

 

Our NZFT specialist and other observers note:

Fifty per cent of all first clutches recorded by wardens this season contained only one egg even though half the male birds involved in these clutches are experienced, capable foragers. Perhaps there was a paucity of NZFT prey items early in the season?