Project Outcomes
We're proud to share with you some of the outcomes and findings from our Dotterel Defenders project.
Identified threats
Highlighted other threats to sand dunes in coastal areas – eg gathering evidence of erosion and damage to dune vegetation from motor bikes . This has triggered discussion around effectiveness of policies for protecting coastal areas with District Councils – eg dog control, vehicle use.
Raised awareness
Raised awareness of threats and protection measures through community workshops and flyers. We bought together coastal communities, local authorities, iwi/hapu and community groups.
Empowered to protect
Empowered communities to protect their local shorebirds with a range of tools. Provided training to community volunteers in proven ecological and cloud based citizen science methods for investigating and managing threats to wildlife.
Shared learnings
Highlighted the importance for conservation groups conducting comparable projects to monitor and record results, improve their practices and share learnings with the wider scientific community.
Planted trees
Planted over ... plants at key dotterel sites in collaboration with other groups.
Collected beach litter
Undertook beach cleanups at each site and recorded what we found. ..kg of trash off our beaches!
Gathered important data
Provided better understanding of threats to NZ dotterels, their behaviour and population numbers in Taranaki. This information will be made available for inclusion in the next national Dotterel Recovery Plan.
Improved trapping networks
Improved trapping network and ongoing maintenance which will also benefit other coastal species. We set up (or resurrected) trapping networks with the help of Taranaki Regional Council and established volunteer rosters to check the traps.
Improved breeding success of NZ Dotterel
Increased breeding success per NZ Dotterel Pair from 0.23 at an unmanaged site, to 1.1 in 2017/18 and 1.0 in 2018/19.
Project Data
Predator Trapping and coastblitz
As at March 2019, we have caught across all Dotterel Defenders sites:
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..... rats ..... hedgehogs ..... mustelids ... other
As at March 2019, we have caught over 270 pests from this site! Mostly hedgehogs and mustelids.
Click here to add your own content, or connect to data from your collections.
Click here to add your own content, or connect to data from your collections.
Breeding success
Overall, the Taranaki NZ dotterels monitored managed to raise an average of 1.1 fledged chicks per breeding pair.
To put this in perspective, at unmanaged sites (no predator control or signage) around the country, NZ dotterels only raise 0.23 fledged chicks per breeding pair on average which is not enough to sustain the population.
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