New Zealand dotterel

Found on sandy beaches. Give nesting birds a wide berth and keep dogs under control.

Story

Northern dotterels grew from about 1,000–1,200 birds in the 1960s and 70s to about 2,600 by 2020. Kawau residents count dotterels among the rare ground-nesting birds that have started to thrive on the island.

Behaviour

Tūturiwhatu nest in a simple scrape in the sand, often marked with driftwood or shells. Get too close and a parent will try to lead you away, faking injury or scuttling off low in a 'rat-run'.