The threatened endemic New Zealand Dotterels' total population is estimated at 1500 to 1700 with about 150 - 200 of these inhabiting Bay of Plenty beaches.
About a third of the population was taken into captivity in October, in response to oil spills from the MV Rena, to provide a breeding nucleus of dotterel if a significant number of the population was affected by the oil being washed up on local beaches.
Dottterels Held In Captivity
At Maketu, (40 km south of Tauranga), 20 NZ Dotterels were removed in October, some with light oiling on their feathers and plumage.
They were cleaned and held in captivity at the Oiled Wildlife Response Centre in Te Maunga near Tauranga, until the danger of oil on the beaches was significantly reduced.
They joined about 40 other NZ Dotterels at the Centre, rescued from Bay of Plenty beaches - the first time this number of dotterel were kept in captivity in New Zealand.
Challenges included keeping the territorial birds separate within the captive facility, and teaching them to feed from the supplied food.
Volunteers Ensure Beach Safe Again
A group of NZ Dotterels were left on the beach, as only a certain number from each beach site could be accommodated at the OWR Centre.
Constant checks on the state of the beach on the Maketu sandspit, and regular cleaning by vounteers and by machine, has seen the beach reach the standard necessary for return of the captive held dotterels.
New Zealand Dotterel expert, Dr John Dowding led the team that cared for and returned the dotterel with 15 dotterel arriving back on December 3rd.
Dotterel Settle Back Well
Media and members of the public attended the release that was held on Maket Spit, about 100 metres from the public viewing point at the Maketu Reserve. The public were asked to stay off the spit during the release to ensure the welfare of the birds.
There was a brief speech before an iwi representative blessed the birds, which were then released in small groups on the spit.
They all looked to have settled in well, said chairman of the Maketu-Ongatoro Wetland Society, Julian Fitter. It was interesting to watch, that when released the birds had two basic responses, Some looked around and then scurried off to a safe distance staying on the ground, he said. Others took off immediately and did a flight around before coming in to land on the beach.
Dotterel Already Breeding at Maketu
When checking the beach that morning he also saw a dotterel chick from one of the established nests, and this was in addition to another known nest with three eggs.
“We appear to have three breeding pairs of dotterel on the spit plus the 15 dotterel just returned,” he said.
The returning dotterel may well breed this summer, as there are still several months left of the usual breeding season, which is from August to February.
This week, there was no sign of any significant amounts of new oil, just one or two small bits on the latest strand line, said Mr Fitter
One Dotterel Dies From Stress-illness
More recently, Mr Fitter counted about 16 dotterel on the spit and said that interestingly in at least two cases there appeared to be a pair made up of one with coloured bands, and one without, which might mean that they were getting back together with a partner who was left behind in the initial capture operation in October.
Five of the NZ Dotterels from Mataku were held back from repatriation to their beaches, because of a fungal lung infection that was being treated with antibiotics. One of these birds subsequently died at the Te Maunga facility.
Normally the dotterels would be able to fight such an infection, but in captivity under stress they were much less able to, said Mr Fitter.
