MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Fairy tern under spotlight over breeding season![]() Breeding sites are monitored during daylight hours seven days a week during the season by DOC rangers and trained volunteers. “Our tara iti/fairy tern rangers, along with trained volunteers, are essential to the survival of the species,” says Ayla Wiles, DOC Biodiversity Ranger. “They keep an eye on the adult birds during breeding and nesting, and monitor chicks. Along with doing compliance and public advocacy, they also keep records of feeding and other behaviour to look at long-term trends in relation to things like fish stocks and weather impacts.” Wiles says last season was fairly successful in terms of chick numbers, with seven chicks fledged, the most in recent years. ![]() Tara iti are critically endangered. The total population of the species is fewer than 40 birds.
DOC’s 2020-21 fairy tern team, from left, Ayla Wiles, (Biodiversity Ranger Whangarei), Molly Hicks (Biodiversity Supervisor Auckland Mainland), Shelley Ogle (Biodiversity Ranger Auckland Mainland). Back row: Shannan Courtenay (Mangawhai fairy tern ranger), Les Judd (Supervisor Whangarei) Alex Wilson (Senior Ranger Auckland Mainland), John Neilsen (Papakanui fairy tern ranger), Deane Williams (Papakanui fairy tern ranger) Jacob Ball (Mangawhai fairy tern ranger), Amanda Hunt (Pakiri fairy tern ranger) and Nikki Hartley (Waipu fairy tern ranger). PHOTO/SUPPLIED |