ISSUES AND OPTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANDERED NEW ZEALAND FAIRY TERN

Transcription

1 ISSUES AND OPTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANDERED NEW ZEALAND FAIRY TERN Brian Chudleigh June Brooks, Alison Davis, Karen Baird and Mark Bellingham (Part 1) Rangi Zimmerman (Part 2) December

2 Executive Summary: The NZ fairy tern is a critically endangered sub-species. The related Australian and New Caledonian sub-species are also threatened taxa. In 2010 the NZ fairy tern population was 10 breeding pairs at four sites and a total population of 42 birds. Threats to the NZ fairy tern include: human disturbance (people, dogs and vehicles), introduced mammalian predators and possibly food availability. These issues are not being comprehensively addressed in the current recovery programme established by the Department of Conservation. The NZ fairy tern recovery plan has set a goal of recovering the population to 200 birds by At the current rate of progress this is unlikely to ever be achieved. This has led to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society independently assessing the issues and options that effect NZ fairy tern and what can be done to stop extinction of this subspecies. This report assesses current conservation management of NZ fairy tern at the four breeding sites, post-breeding flocking sites and wintering sites. It also assesses twenty one alternative and potential breeding sites, where NZ fairy tern could be (re)- established. These site assessments have led to a number of actions that could be implemented to assist recovery of the subspecies. Contributors: Report prepared by June Brooks Site analysis and interviews by June Brooks Field work undertaken by Rangi Zimmerman Photos by Paulla-Jean Pridham Maps by Alison Davis Editing by Alison Davis, Karen Baird and Mark Bellingham Technical advice and field assistance by Gwen Pulham Project managed by Karen Baird Fund raising for the project by Nick Beveridge Work commissioned by Mark Bellingham Acknowledgments Many people and organisations have contributed to the preparation of this report, but particular thanks goes to the Ornithological Society of NZ, and Gwenda Pulham who has tirelessly undertaken field work on NZ fairy tern, and been a strong advocate for the recognition of the plight of NZ fairy tern and the need to urgently protect it. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND

3 Table of Contents Executive Summary:... 1 Contributors:... 1 Acknowledgments... 1 PART INTRODUCTION Objectives Background ASSESSMENT OF NZ FAIRY TERN CURRENT BREEDING SITES Mangawhai Habitat Characteristics Legal Status, Plans and Land-Coastal Use Management Programme Conservation Issues Summary Papakanui Spit South Kaipara Head Habitat Characteristics Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal use Management Programme Conservation Issues Summary Pakiri Habitat Characteristics Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal Use Management Programme Conservation Issues Summary Waipu Habitat characteristics Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal Use Management Programme Conservation Issues Summary POTENTIAL BREEDING SITES Methods Assessment Criteria Site Rankings Results of site assessments Recommendations for potential breeding sites Conclusions and Recommendations Appendix 1: Assessment of NZ Fairy Terns Current Potential Breeding Sites Appendix 2: Detailed Potential Sites Assessment... 1 Figure 1: Breeding success of New Zealand fairy tern... 3 ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND

4 Figure 2: Mangawhai - NZ fairy tern breeding areas Figure 3: Papakanui Spit NZ fairy tern breeding areas Figure 4: Pakiri NZ Fairy tern breeding area Figure 5: Waipu NZ Fairy tern breeding area Figure 6: Location of current and potential New Zealand fairy tern breeding habitat Table 1: Summary of suitability of current and potential sites for breeding New Zealand fairy tern ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND

5 PART INTRODUCTION The New Zealand fairy tern (NZ fairy tern) (Sternula nereis davisae) is considered a genetically distinct endemic taxon 1 and is one of New Zealand s rarest endemic bird species. Its conservation status is listed nationally as Acutely Threatened Nationally Critical 2. The NZ fairy tern is confined to four known breeding sites with a very low population number of around 40 individuals and only 8-10 breeding pairs. The four breeding sites are all located on the coast of North Auckland - Pakiri, Mangawhai and Waipu on the east coast, and Papakanui Spit (South Kaipara Head) on the west coast. 1.1 Objectives The objectives of this report are twofold: 1. To examine the management issues and problems that surround the conservation and recovery of NZ fairy tern at the four current breeding sites, and to make recommendations for improved management and regulatory regimes at these sites. By improving breeding success at the current sites, the present very slow recovery of the NZ fairy tern population should accelerate. 2. To identify potential NZ fairy tern breeding sites that already possess the necessary breeding habitat requirements or with site modification would offer good breeding habitat. These sites are likely to require some form of legal protection. The increasing rate of coastal residential development at three of the four current breeding sites (Pakiri, Waipu and Mangawhai) and the increasing recreational use at all breeding sites will make it very challenging for NZ fairy tern to maintain healthy populations at these sites. Attraction or relocation of NZ fairy tern to new or previously inhabited breeding sites, which currently experience lower levels of human disturbance may provide an additional recovery option. Suitable new breeding and feeding locations are likely to be required to enable the NZ fairy tern population to increase. 1 Brunton, D.; Baling, M Conservation genetics of the New Zealand fairy tern (Sterna nereis davisae). Unpublished report to the Department of Conservation, University of Auckland, Auckland. 2 NZ Threat Classification, Miskelly et al. Notornis, 2008, Vol. 55: ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 1

6 1.2 Background The past distribution and history of population decline of NZ fairy tern is described by Hansen NZ fairy tern was once widespread around the coastline of the North Island and east coast, and inland rivers of the South Island. Up until the 1950s NZ fairy tern were breeding in estuaries and river mouths in the mid to lower North Island, but by the 1970 s had become confined to the northern North Island. In 1983 there were just three pairs breeding at three sites in Northland: Mangawhai, Waipu, and Papakanui Spit. These three sites had remained the only breeding sites since that time, until a recent expansion of a breeding pair at Pakiri in The first active protection of NZ fairy tern was the establishment of a wildlife refuge at Waipu in the 1980 s. In 1997 the Department of Conservation (DOC) began intensive management of NZ fairy tern by preparing the first recovery plan 4 and implementing a recovery programme. A review of the recovery programme was undertaken in , which led to a revised recovery plan in The focus of the programme was to appoint wardens at all of the breeding sites to attempt to protect breeding pairs from human disturbance and to undertake predator control. More recently there have been attempts to improve nesting success by egg and habitat manipulation, including removal of eggs for artificial incubation, short distance relocation of nests and removal of invading vegetation at nest sites. This intensive management has resulted in an increase from three breeding pairs at three sites to between eight to ten pairs at four sites in recent years. The current long-term goal of the NZ fairy tern recovery programme 3 is to: Increase the number of NZ fairy terns to 100 by Then to increase the numbers of NZ fairy terns to at least 250 birds and the population to one capable of long-term survival, with minimal levels of protection maintaining the population at key coastal sites The short-term management goal to be achieved by 2017(term of the current recovery plan) is to 3 : Actively manage and protect all NZ fairy tern nests to achieve maximum levels of productivity (1 2 chicks per pair per annum) and to protect breeding adult birds so that the total NZ fairy tern population increases by at least 1.5% per annum over the 10-year period of this plan. Manage at least five breeding sites if expansion of the population continues and birds move to new sites. With the present population trends including breeding production neither the longterm or short-term goal is likely to be achieved. Although a breeding result of an average of one fledgling per pair was produced for the breeding season, this is unlikely to produce the projected population increase when taking into account juvenile and adult mortality. 3 The NZ Fairy tern recovery plan. 2007, Katrina Hansen, DOC 4 Fairy Tern Recovery Plan, , R Parrish et al Technical Review of the New Zealand Fairy Tern Recovery Programme, Graeme Taylor, Katrina Hansen and Sam Ferreria, DOC ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 2

7 One of the key issues is that although the total population is increasing, there has been very little consequential increase in breeding pairs over the past 20 years. Although the demographic profile of the non-breeders is changing from an elderly population to one with some old birds and a number of birds younger than three years they are yet to breed and no new nesting sites have been established (apart from the one breeding pair at Pakiri. Producing more non-breeders, will not produce an increase in the population, nor will it meet the recovery plan goal of five breeding sites or 250 birds in the future. This report addresses what the authors see as the key issues for NZ fairy tern recovery: 1. Improved management of the current nesting, feeding, flocking and roosting sites. 2. A significant increase in management and research effort (as largely outlined in the current NZ fairy tern recovery plan) 3. Full legal protection of NZ fairy tern breeding habitat and enforcement of entry provisions is urgently required. 4. Attracting or moving birds to new nesting sites. Figure 1: Breeding success of New Zealand fairy tern (from Ismar, unpublished research proposal 2010) ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 3

8 2.0 ASSESSMENT OF NZ FAIRY TERN CURRENT BREEDING SITES The issues affecting NZ fairy tern protection and population recovery at the four current breeding sites (Mangawhai, Papakanui Spit, Waipu and Pakiri) are examined and recommendations made for future management to improve NZ fairy tern recovery. Information was gathered from both published and unpublished reports, interviews with DOC staff and volunteers working on the NZ fairy term recovery programme, and from field visits and assessments by the contributors to this report. 2.1 Mangawhai Mangawhai Harbour and Spit on the east coast of North Auckland is currently the breeding area for between three and five pairs of NZ fairy tern. Nesting sites are on the Spit, and feeding habitat is primarily in the Harbour but also in the adjacent ocean. During the 2009/10 season there were five breeding pairs, which are 50% of the NZ fairy tern breeding pairs at this time, making it the single most important breeding site for this sub-species. 6. The area is also habitat for a range of other threatened shore birds including NZ dotterel, Caspian tern and variable oystercatcher. Other shore birds that use the Spit include pied stilt, white fronted tern, paradise duck, and international migratory waders such as godwit and little tern Habitat Characteristics Mangawhai Spit is an area of mobile sand dunes and flats adjoined by the Mangawhai Harbour and the ocean. The Spit is sparsely vegetated predominately with pingao and spinifex. Sand carex forms dense swards in places, and the introduced saltwater paspalum and buffalo grass has invaded some sand flats. a There is a large lagoon in the middle of the Spit, which is significantly reducing in size over the years. The lagoon has been artificially created by harbour works to improve navigation in the Harbour (see below).there now appears to be little or no fresh seawater input into the lagoon resulting in variable water quality. The former bed of the former Harbour outlet channel is now extensive bare sand flat. Tailings from dredging the Harbour channels have been deposited on the Harbour edge of the Spit, which has resulted in a bund of elevated shell banks. This has created suitable nesting habitat for NZ fairy terns. There have been recent efforts to stabilise sand movement on the Spit by constructing sand fences and planting. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number and height of dunes along the ocean edge, effectively cutting off storm inputs of fresh seawater to the lagoon NZ fairy tern have selected the shell area on the Spit as nest sites, where the white and yellow coloured shell act as an excellent camouflage for their eggs and chicks. Nest sites are located well away from any vegetation to improve surveillance by birds incubating, or brooding and feeding chicks. 6 Mangawhai Wildlife Reserve Conservation Working Plan 2008, Whangarei Area Office, Northland Conservancy, Department of Conservation p 7 ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 4

9 Figure 2: Mangawhai - NZ fairy tern breeding areas Legal Status, Plans and Land-Coastal Use Reserve Status The majority of the land area of Mangawhai Spit is a Government Purpose (Wildlife Refuge) Reserve subject to the Reserves Act 1977 ( NZ Gazette 1982 P. 840 and P.1695), and management is vested in DOC. The bund and the associated lagoon are effectively an accretion to the Spit, and are not included in the Wildlife Refuge. Instead this area lies within the coastal marine area, and therefore under the management of the Northland Regional Council Harbour Works The lagoon is the remnant of a new outlet channel created when the Spit was breached by a storm in In the aftermath of Cyclone Bola in 1988 most of the Harbour tidal flow began to move through this new channel resulting in the more northerly channel silting up and eventually closing completely. The northern channel was the main navigation route for boats in and out of the Harbour. The Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) formed in response to these navigation issues, and began a dredging programme to close the more southerly channel and redirect the tidal flow ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 5

10 through the northerly located channel. Sand from the dredging of the channels was deposited on the western edge of the Spit to form the present day bund. Northland Conservation Management Strategy Mangawhai Spit is included in the Whangarei Bream Bay Priority Area of the Northland Conservation Management Strategy prepared by DOC 7. The protection of the habitat and breeding ground for threatened coastal birds and the threats of coastal subdivision are key management issues identified in this Strategy. Priority Action 4 7 identifies the need for active management to protect breeding sites of coastal birds. Under Section 5.11 the Strategy states that in the next ten years the Conservancy will focus its management, monitoring and research on the high priority indigenous species this includes NZ fairy tern which have a Very High Conservancy ranking for action and the Highest national ranking for action. 8 Relevant management initiatives and measures to achieve the priorities for protected species include: 7. Seek the conservation and protection of areas which are of importance to priority species but which are not managed by the Department through suitable mechanisms such as the planning processes of the Resource Management Act) and 16 make input into the processes of the Resource Management Act to ensure recognition of the requirements of protected species and their habitats The current review of this CMS provides an opportunity to extend legal protection boundaries to all areas of the Spit. Mangawhai Spit Reserve Conservation Working Plan DOC has an informal Mangawhai Spit Wildlife Reserve Conservation Working Plan to direct conservation management. The Department s broad management objectives for managing the Spit 10 includes maintaining existing nesting habitat, creating new habitat, controlling predators (mammalian and avian) and protecting coastal birds from the affects of people. Management of the site as NZ fairy tern breeding habitat is the priority for the Reserve. 11 Updating this informal plan and seeking obtaining formal approval as a reserve management plan would give DOC, the community and other interests an opportunity to discuss and better define what needs to be protected at Mangawhai Spit (and the Harbour) and how that might happen. There would be the opportunity to anticipate how increasing recreational use of Mangawhai could be redirected away from birdsensitive areas. This would ensure transparency in management of the Reserve and lessen opportunities for vested interests to gain inappropriate control. Northland Regional Coastal Plan Management of Mangawhai Harbour is covered by the provisions of the Northland Regional Council Coastal Plan. The upper harbour is zoned Marine 1 Protection Management Area, which are areas of conservation value that require protection. The 7 Northland Conservation Management Strategy pages Northland Conservation Management Strategy,Table Eight page Mangawhai Wildlife Reserve Conservation Working Plan 2008, Whangarei Area Office, Northland Conservancy, Department of Conservation, page Page 2 of Working Plan in 2 above. 11 Page 9 of Working Plan in 2 above. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 6

11 rules relating to this management area provide that any activities do not disturb the roosting, feeding or breeding of indigenous or migratory birds. The channel near the bund is zoned as a ski lane, while other parts of the channel are zoned for boat mooring. Kaipara District Plan Mangawhai Spit is zoned Reserves in the operative Kaipara District Plan. The land adjacent to Spit is zoned Rural. The large amount of vacant land zoned for residential development in the settlement of Mangawhai is the key issue that could impact negatively on NZ fairy tern and other breeding birds on the Harbour and Spit. There are a large number of vacant residential sections (about ) 12 and large areas of vacant land proposed for Rural Residential and Residential Zoning in addition to the areas already available. 13 The future increase in the permanent resident and summer visitor population will increase recreational use of the Harbour and Spit, resulting in increasing disturbance to shore and migratory birds Management Programme A DOC programme to protect NZ fairy tern at Mangawhai has been operating since the early 1990 s. Key components of the programme are a full time contract warden during the NZ fairy tern breeding season, volunteer wardens, predator control, roping off of NZ fairy tern nest sites, visitor information signs, egg manipulations including artificial incubation, monitoring the NZ fairy tern at the nest sites, and general advocacy directed towards the Mangawhai community. DOC funds the contract warden for five days, who does all monitoring and predator control work as well as community relations duties in the community. Volunteers from the About Tern group make visits on the other two days. The About Tern group are local volunteers under the direction of DOC. The community relations shorebird ranger at the Whangarei DOC Area Office oversees the fairy tern programmes in Northland and obtains technical advice from the Northland Conservancy technical support officer (Ecology and Environment). Other management work at Mangawhai Spit, not directly related to the conservation of NZ fairy tern is undertaken by the MHRT. This includes dune stabilisation by erecting sand dune fences and planting dune plants, rabbit control and maintaining roped-off areas for nesting NZ fairy tern. The current regime of a fulltime DOC warden at Mangawhai Spit and the management programme resulted in a successful outcome for the 2009/10 NZ fairy tern season with six NZ fairy tern chicks fledging Conservation Issues Legal Protection Mangawhai Spit is a Government Purpose (Wildlife Refuge) Reserve which gives the site a reasonable degree of conservation legal protection. A major accretion on the Harbour edge of the Spit (the bund and lagoon area) are important fairy tern nesting 12 Ray White Real Estate Co, Mangawhai, Telephone conversation 27 July See Kaipara District Council District Planning Map 80 Proposed Rural Residential and Proposed Residential Zones. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 7

12 and feeding areas, is outside the Reserve and remains legally unprotected. Protection of this area could be addressed in the review of DOC s Northland CMS. Community Issues Three local community groups are involved in the management of Mangawhai Spit and the NZ fairy tern recovery programme. The About Tern group organises volunteers for the DOC programme, the NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust raises funds and provides logistical support to volunteers and the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) carries out works on the Spit and Harbour to enhance recreational opportunities in the area, and also undertake some conservation work to restore natural values. The MHRS has undertaken dredging in the Harbour to change tidal flows and improve boat navigation. Dredged sand from the MHRS s activities has been deposited on the bund to reinforce the Spit, and they recently applied for consents for major dredging and elimination of mangroves in the upper Harbour. It has a MOU with DOC to carry out rabbit control, re-vegetation work and sand fences to encourage the creation of dunes and stabilize sand on the Wildlife Refuge on the Spit. Habitat Management of the Spit The activities of the MHRS on Mangawhai Spit appear to be in conflict with the immediate ecological needs for suitable NZ fairy tern nesting habitat on the spit. Also MHRS activities (sand fence construction and planting activities) have caused disturbance to bird nesting and monitoring. To date DOC have addressed the individual management of nests and nesting areas, and appear to have overlooked potential adverse effects from MHRS activities on the fairy tern nesting habitat NZ fairy tern nest on the bund created from dredged material on the western side of the spit and are protected from the effects of extreme north easterly storms, in particular nest loss from wave action. Nesting activity by NZ fairy terns on the bund wall has been successful in the past and including the 2009/10 season. NZ fairy terns regularly forage in the adjacent lagoon. Now it appears that the MHRS efforts to build dunes with sand fences and plantings is degrading the lagoon foraging area with shallowing of the lagoon, a decrease in area and inadequate tidal flushing. At times NZ fairy tern CT and OSNZ volunteers have dug a trench to allow some inflow of seawater into the lagoon during lower high tides. The MHRS does not favour allowing trenches to be cut as they consider it weakens the Spit at a low point. The Mangawhai Wildlife Reserve Working Plan 2008 recognises the importance of maintaining the lagoon as a still water fishing site for fledging NZ fairy tern and other species. 14. MHRS activities appear to be contrary to the Mangawhai Spit Wildlife Reserve Conservation Working Plan. Predator Control and NZ fairy tern Egg Loss Predator control on Mangawhai Spit seems to be well implemented and losses of birds and eggs to predators have been rare in recent years. However, the unexplained loss of eggs in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 breeding seasons, from nests highlights the need for better surveillance of nests to detect whether predators or people are responsible. Surveillance cameras have been used on a number of threatened bird species programmes with similar issues in New Zealand. 14 Page 12 of the Report in 2 above. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 8

13 Weather Events The main loss of eggs and nests coincides with severe storm events, which wash away the nests if they are not able to be relocated. Birds nesting on the bund on the western side of the Spit are protected from severe easterly storms and are therefore more likely to survive. Human Disturbance Human disturbance caused the death by trampling of one chick in the 2008/09 season but overall the local community is aware of the protected status of the Spit and generally abides by the access restrictions: a ban on dogs, vehicles on the beach, horses etc. An incident in the 2009/10 season where a NZ fairy tern chick was disturbed has raised the need for DOC to define the routes where people can cross the Spit to access the ocean beach during the nesting season. The remainder of the Spit would be for the exclusive use of the birds. Recreational Activities Kite surfing and heavy boat traffic in the main channel (between the bund and the Mangawhai Harbour boat ramp) may be affecting NZ fairy tern foraging in the channels of the Harbour. Other recreational impacts from dogs and motorbikes are less of an issue and local residents undertake voluntary watches, and there appears to be strong peer pressure in the community to protect NZ fairy tern. Comments by residents at Mangawhai suggest that it might be better to identify the best access routes for people to go from the Harbour to the ocean beach, rather than fencing NZ fairy tern nest sites, as this may be less confusing to people. Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society Upper Harbour Development In 2009 the MHRS outlined new proposals for modification of the upper Harbour by removing mangroves, channel dredging, creating new beaches, new boat ramps, and reinstating the wharf at the end of Moir St. The objective proposed is to create a better environment for recreational activities in the upper Harbour. The proposed removal of mangroves is likely to adversely affect NZ fairy tern and wader feeding 15 The dredging of the channel, restoration of the former wharf and all tide use of the Moir St boat ramp, along with other recreational use at low tide could have significant short and long term impacts on an important foraging area for NZ fairy tern and other shore birds. Ismar et al 16 found that the area of the Harbour bounded by mangroves was where NZ fairy terns fed most often, and was also where she recorded the highest abundances of prey items. The lagoon was the second favoured feeding area. Additionally the disturbance caused by constant motor craft movements and recreational activities at low tide (the prime foraging period) could have significant adverse effects on the above species. Northland Regional Council have declined the consent for these activities, however the applicant has now appealed to the Environment Court. Forest and Bird and DOC have opposed the granting of the consents. 15 Steffi Ismar, Expert evidence presented to Northland Regional Council Hearing 2011 and Mark Bellingham. Expert evidence presented to NRC hearing Ismar et al Feeding Ecology of the NZ Fairy Tern. Interim report to Birdlife International, unpubl. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 9

14 2.1.5 Summary 1. Mangawhai Spit is the key site for the NZ fairy tern population most pairs breed here and chicks produced here. 2. There is a well resourced and organised management programme organised here, including local volunteer warden support. This includes nest minding, observations, predator control and nest manipulations when required. 3. Recent unexplained losses of NZ fairy tern eggs points to the need to install video surveillance to determine why these losses are occurring. 4. The proposal by the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society to clear mangroves from the Mangawhai Harbour must be opposed as this site is the key feeding area for breeding NZ fairy tern at Mangawhai. The close proximity of suitable feeding habitat is likely to explain the success of this area for NZ fairy tern. 5. Habitat improvements such as clearance of invading weeds near existing and potential NZ fairy tern nest sites would improve the quality of these sites for fairy tern breeding. 6. The active stabilisation of the Spit by dune plantings should be discouraged as this is likely to lead to less suitable breeding habitat for NZ fairy tern. 7. Formal legal protection of the accretion at Mangawhai Spit would provide increase security for NZ fairy tern breeding habitat. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 10

15 2.2 Papakanui Spit South Kaipara Head Papakanui Spit at the southern entrance to the Kaipara Harbour is a large potential habitat area for NZ fairy tern, but currently only a very small number of pairs breed there. In only one breeding pair was located, a further two potential breeding pairs, and up to eight different birds in total were observed in the area 17. Papakanui Spit and the associated lagoon area are of international significance as nesting habitat and feeding area for threatened shore bird species including NZ fairy tern, NZ dotterel and variable oystercatcher, and as roosting and feeding areas for national and international migratory waders 18. A total of 87 wading or coastal species many of which are threatened species are known for the area 19. Figure 3: Papakanui Spit NZ fairy tern breeding areas NZ fairy tern nest sites NZ fairy tern roost site Papakanui Spit Wildlife Refuge Habitat Characteristics 17 Soren Smith Tara-iti summary report for Papakanui, , Department Of Conservation, Warkworth Area Office 18 Department of Conservation Conservation Management Strategy Auckland p Ornithological Society of New Zealand records (2010) ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 11

16 Papakanui Spit is a large area of mobile dune fields and a three km long sand spit located at the South Head of Kaipara Harbour. The Spit almost encloses the broad intertidal flats of the Waionui Inlet. There are also a number of sand islands of varying size at the tip of the Spit. At the base of the Spit is Rangitira Beach, which is also habitat used by NZ fairy tern. Spinifex and pingao grow on the active dunes, and a variety of rushes and sedges grow in the damp dune hollows. Mangrove shrubland and salt marshes and meadows grow in the Inlet. There are several areas of flat open shell/sand substrate above the spring high tide mark that are suitable for NZ fairy tern nest sites. The islands at the tip of the Spit are used by NZ fairy tern including as nest sites from time to time. 20 This is a highly dynamic coastal environment characterized by constantly moving wind driven sand dunes, and where the land/sea interface of beaches, islands, sand bars and channels shift and change with tides and storms Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal use The Papakanui Spit wildlife area comprises several parcels of land each with different legal status. These are Papakanui Spit Wildlife Refuge, Waionui Inlet Marginal Strip, Ti Tree Island Conservation Area, Papakanui Conservation Area and Rangitira Beach Marginal Strip. All areas are under the management of the DOC. Crown foreshore and seabed is managed by the Auckland Council, and the Defence Department has a gazetted bombing range on the DOC Stewardship area. The Papakanui Spit Wildlife Refuge at the northern tip of the Spit is very small in area and is now largely located within the intertidal flats. The current boundaries of the Wildlife Refuge do not give any effective protection to the NZ fairy tern or any of the many other bird species present. Parts of the Papakanui Conservation Area (formerly part of the Spit), also now extend below mean high water due to sand movement. The legal boundaries of the Conservation Area are now partly located in the sea (in the bowl area of Waionui Inlet). Conservation areas have a lesser protective status than wildlife refuges, but at Papakanui Spit this is where most of the NZ fairy tern (and other threatened bird species) nesting and foraging activity is now carried out. Legal protection under the various forms of protected status described above allows DOC to exercise greater management control over activities and uses on the land than would otherwise be possible. However the status of Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Act, Government Purpose (Wildlife Refuge) or Nature Reserve under the Reserves Act would provide a more appropriate status as it would have the ability to restrict public access during the breeding season (November February). In this constantly changing physical environment the most practical option is to seek wildlife sanctuary or wildlife or nature reserve status over the conservation land in its entirety and extend the protected area out into the sea. This would allow for the constant change of the land/sea boundaries. This would better protect the nesting and foraging areas of the threatened wildlife present. 20 Sightings of New Zealand Fairy Terns in Autumn 2008, and an estimate of Population Size. 2008, Dave Wilson, DOC Warkworth. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 12

17 Auckland Council (formerly Rodney District) Plan The area under the management of the DOC has an underlying zoning of Open Space One and provides for DOC conservation management. Auckland Council (formerly Auckland Regional Council) Coastal Plan The Spit and inner Waionui Inlet are zoned Coastal Protection Area 1 and the waters of the outer Waionui Inlet are zoned Coastal Protection Area 2 under the Auckland Council Coastal Plan. The Coastal Plan provides for the control of vehicle access along the beach, which has implications for NZ fairy tern protection (see below). Department of Conservation - Conservation Management Strategy, Auckland Conservancy DOC s CMS for the Auckland Conservancy identifies Kaipara South Head as a biodiversity site, a dune field ecosystem o and a wildlife habitat each of national significance. Objectives include: extending the protected area below mean high water springs, enhancing protection with a single protective status, and managing public access to achieve the protection of conservation values (which was to address restricting access in the breeding season). The current review of this CMS provides an opportunity to change the legal protection status and boundaries to meet these objectives Management Programme A management programme to protect NZ fairy tern has been in place at Papakanui Spit since Contract wardens managed by the DOC office are at the site during the NZ fairy tern breeding season (late September until about mid February) 21. There is little volunteer warden support at the site due to its remoteness and relatively inaccessibility. Management actions have focused on predator control, including aerial predators such as black-backed gulls and harriers, roping off of NZ fairy tern nest sites, visitor information signs, egg manipulations including artificial incubation, shoring up of nests to reduce the risk of being inundated with sea water, moving nests away from advancing sand piles, monitoring the birds at their nest sites, and conservation law-enforcement and advocacy for shorebird conservation amongst visitors to the area. Under the current management regime there are two wardens on duty five days a week each, but overlapping on two days. Both are on duty at weekends which are the busy times for visitors to the area. Neither warden is warranted under the Wildlife or Conservation Acts nor is there any effective law enforcement support at this remote site Conservation Issues Egg and Nest Loss Most of the loss of NZ fairy tern nests and egg loss in recent years at Papakanui has been due to shifting dunes/wind driven sand covering nests/eggs and nests being washed away during storms and high tides. Predator Control Predator control appears to be effective at Papakanui Spit. In the 2007/08 season an unknown nest fledged a chick a tribute to effective predator control. There are no 21 See Tara- iti Summary report for Papakanui Soren Smith, unpublished report Department of Conservation, Warkworth Area Office ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 13

18 recent documented cases of losses of eggs, chicks or adults to predation. The 2009/10 season trapping caught cats, hedgehogs, ferrets, stoats, weasels and rats. As at Mangawhai, surveillance cameras at nest sites would provide useful insights into what the traps may not be catching and reasons for nest failures. Defence Department Bombing Range The management of the Defence Department bombing range needs to avoid the bird breeding season at Papakanui Spit, particularly when the NZ fairy tern are nesting.. The occasional target bombing exercises and vehicle demolition exercises cause immediate disturbance to wildlife. It is not ideal to have a bombing range in a wildlife habitat, however, the presence of the bombing range does mean that public access to the conservation area is restricted and this is an advantage for the wildlife present. Disturbance Disturbance of nesting and foraging birds, both terrestrial and shore dwelling species, is a growing issue at Papakanui Spit. 22 The area is not located close to any residential subdivision development, but is easily accessible from Muriwai, Rimmers Rd, Lake Kareta and when South Head Rd is open. This is more pronounced during summer and at the weekends. The main causes of disturbances are: Vehicles 4WD vehicles, dune buggies, dirt and quad bikes access the conservation area from the beach and road ends in Woodhill Forest for fishing, kite-boarding and sightseeing. They damage dune and wetland vegetation and pose a risk to protected wildlife nesting and roosting. Water Sport Recreational Use There is increasing use of the shore bird nesting and foraging areas on the spit, the lagoon and an area known as the bowl by groups of fishermen, kayakers, canoeists, wind surfers and kite boarders, and these users disturb terns feeding in the bowl and lagoon, especially at low tide. Up to 15 cars have been observed at one time in this nesting and foraging habitat. The bow area within the Waionui Inlet is the main NZ fairy tern foraging area at low tide and it is a favoured location for wind surfers and kite boarders. People driving recreational vehicles have ignored roped off areas, pulled signs down around nesting areas and often have uncontrolled dogs. Law Enforcement The DOC enforcement strategy is low key with the emphasis on public education. The wardens advise drivers and beach visitors of the values present and record number plates drivers are advised they will receive a letter if they leave rubbish or cause damage. The same strategy is pursued with illegal camping /fires in the dunes and scrub, out of control fires and damage to DOC signs and gates. The wardens appear to be constrained by not knowing where the legal boundaries of the conservation area are and the powers to protect for wildlife and their habitat under the Wildlife Act Better control of incompatible activities is required and this needs to be achieved through both education and enforcement. The DOC wardens do not hold Conservation or Wildlife Act warrants and have no enforcement training, so when enforcement action is required, Police in Helensville, Auckland Council staff at Muriwai or DOC staff at Warkworth need to be called. Long term some 4WD vehicle users could be diverted to an alternative area of duneland further south, which has low ecological values and no threatened species 22 Tara- iti Summary report for Papakanui P 11. by Soren Smith, Department of Conservation Warkworth Area Office ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 14

19 present. Although the kite-boarders favour Papakanui Inlet and northern part of Te Oneone Beach, they will need to be kept out of these areas in the breeding season, from November to February. Both DOC for the Conservation Area and the Auckland Council for the CMA can restrict and control vehicles Summary 1. The day to day management of the NZ fairy tern breeding site at Papakanui observation, monitoring, predator control and nest relocation is intensive and well organized. 2. The low productivity of NZ fairy tern at the Papakanui/South Head site (with extensive potential nesting and feeding areas) needs investigation and the use of nest surveillance cameras should be a first step. 3. The land is protected under three different categories of legal status and managed by DOC. Combined with the difficulty in locating legal boundaries this creates difficulties in the enforcing of protection of wildlife and their habitats. The current Auckland Conservancy CMS proposes this be consolidated into one classification urgently, which reflects the importance of the area for wildlife conservation. 4. Increasing use of the area for incompatible recreational uses, in particular kite boarding and windsurfing, which use the waters of the estuary and bowl at low tide, is causing disturbance to the habitat, foraging and roosting of protected wildlife. 5. Public access needs to be prohibited during the shore bird courtship, breeding, nesting and foraging season, i.e. September through to February, which will be more easily achieved it the legal status changes identified in 3. are achieved. 6. Recreational user disturbance of nesting and foraging birds, including NZ fairy tern can only be effectively addressed through having rangers/wardens on site with enforcement powers and appropriate support from DOC Warkworth Area Office, Auckland Council at Muriwai and the NZ Police at Helensville. 7. The Defence Department Bombing Range is incompatible with nature conservation purposes of the conservation area, its use from September through to March needs to be significantly curtailed. In the interim all use of the bombing range should be limited to outside the NZ fairy tern breeding season. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 15

20 2.3 Pakiri Pakiri Estuary and Beach on the north-east coast of the Auckland region supports one pair of NZ fairy tern. It is a small site where the Pakiri River flows out onto a long gently sloping beach. The pair that breed there are usually successful breeders, and this has been attributed to the effective management programme. The area is also an important NZ dotterel and variable oystercatcher breeding site, and other shore birds such as godwit and other terns use the area. Figure 4: Pakiri NZ Fairy tern breeding area NZ fairy tern nest site Habitat Characteristics The Pakiri River flows out onto the broad gently sloping Pakiri Beach and forms a small estuary. The river outlet is mobile and its location changes from season to season. This creates wet sand flats beside the river, and elevated flats above the mean high water mark on the northern riverbank. The elevated sand flats are the preferred nesting location for the NZ fairy tern Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal Use The public land on the Pakiri beach front is limited to the land in the surveyed Pakiri River channel and Estuary managed by the Auckland Council (formerly Rodney District Council). There are constraints to management that are imposed by the private ownership of the majority of the beach at the site. North Beach The fore dune and beach north of the Pakiri River Estuary is Maori freehold land owned by seven Trustees (Certificate of Title ). The title boundary extends below the mean high water mark due to coastal erosion since the parcel was surveyed. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 16

21 The title also extends onto part of the beach south of the present river channel. The owners are supportive of the NZ fairy tern protection regime and the DOC, warden has developed a good relationship with them. The landowners permit the warden to trap cats, mustelids and hedgehogs on their land. They support warden intervention with visitors to ensure all dogs are on leashes. The dogs belonging to the owners are exempted from this requirement at their request. River Channel and Estuary The ownership of Pakiri River Estuary is unclear.. It appears to be Crown river bed/estuary administered by the Auckland Council. The Pakiri River estuary has changed significantly since the survey of the legal boundaries of the river and the adjoining titles. That part of the south beach immediately in front of the campground beach access entrance and the Council changing sheds and toilet block is vested in the Auckland Council. Aerial photography with cadastral overlays indicate that the privately owned part of the north beach in Certificate of Title extends southwards over the present river channel onto the south beach. There is then an area of Council river bed, beach and estuary. The private land on the south beach contained in Certificate of Title NA22D/954 (see below under South Beach ) is located southwards from the northern tip of the Taumata A Block. The two main public access entry points at the campground and the toilet block are controlled by the Auckland Council. Council management of the land and beach here establishes a window of opportunity to implement Council s dog control policy at the two main access points to the beach and the immediate foredune area in front of the access points and that part of the beach in the surveyed river channel/estuary. This includes part of the beach front where the majority of public use takes place. South Beach South beach is Maori freehold land with the Proprietor noted as the NZ Guardian Trust Co as Administrator (Certificate of Title NA22D/954). This part of the beach does not currently have any NZ dotterel or NZ fairy tern nests. The owners of the south beach front are not supportive of the NZ fairy tern recovery programme and will not allow the warden to intervene with the public, carry out predator control or control dogs on the land. As with the north beach the title boundary reaches more or less to the low water mark. Auckland Council Plan The coastline at Pakiri is affected by the 200 metre shoreline yard rule keeping development back from the shore. The immediate beachfront and estuary margins are in the Open Space 1 zone, the catchment is in the Landscape Protection Rural zone and it is in the Mangawhai - Pakiri Special Character Activity area. Auckland Council (formerly Auckland Regional Council) Coastal Plan Pakiri Estuary is protected under the Auckland Regional Coastal Plan Schedule 3, (coastal protection area). The Estuary is Coastal Protection Area 1 and the adjacent beach north and south is zoned Coastal Area Protection Area 2. (See CPA 87 - Sheets 38 and 39 ASCV 109 Schedule 4 Pakiri Coastal System). The significance of the Pakiri River mouth, estuary and coastal area for threatened bird species is documented in the plan with specific mention of the NZ fairy tern and NZ dotterel. Conservation Management Strategy The DOC CMS identifies this area as an Area of Significant Conservation Value. This is of importance for recommendations contained later in this report concerning dog control. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 17

22 2.3.3 Management Programme A contract warden is employed by the DOC Warkworth Area Office, and the contract warden is at the site for the duration of the NZ fairy tern breeding season, supported by volunteers on days off. Management at the site for NZ fairy tern has been undertaken since the birds (re)established here in 2003/04. Management activities include predator control, weeding potential nesting areas, roping off nest sites, visitor information signs, monitoring the NZ fairy tern at the nest sites, and general advocacy directed to beach users. A public access route is marked by a tape barrier to provide public walking access to the northern area of beach. Easterly storms have caused nest destruction in the past at this site Conservation Issues Predator Control There is no predator control trapping on the south part of the beach as the owners will not permit it. This creates a gap in the trap barrier and any nest established there is at greater risk. There is a double line of traps in the dune area on the north beach adjacent to the nesting sites, creating a buffer zone. One line is located on the fore dune and another in the vegetation of the back dunes. These appear to be effective with no recorded losses this season due to predation. Cats, stoats and hedgehogs have been caught in the 2009/10 season. Black back gulls are controlled by egg-pricking at their nesting site at Poutawa and the warden supervision provides protection for the NZ fairy terns. Some cat traps have been tampered with. It is fortunate that the NZ fairy tern pair elected to nest on the north beach which has predator control in the season, but they have nested on the south beach in the past. Disturbance Once effective predator control has been established, the main issue then becomes disturbance from summer visitors. These visitors mostly come from the holiday camp 200m from the nesting site on the south bank of the river. During the three week summer holiday period there can be up to 600 visitors per day, which coincides with the peak NZ fairy tern breeding season. Visitors on the north side of the Estuary could disturb NZ fairy terns leading their young to the water's edge to feed. Local Residents and Bach Owners Local residents and Bach owners are generally very supportive of the NZ fairy tern protection programme. Newcomers/renters who are unaware of the programme need educating, but the majority are supportive when it is explained. Vehicles The access gates to the north beach are chained and locked by the landowners. Quad bike access is confined to family and the beach patrol when they patrol Pakiri Beach. Kite boarders and Windsurfers The current level of impact from kite boarding and wind surfing, quad access and other recreational disturbance appear to be acceptable at present. Fishermen Fishermen are requested to bury all waste and bait so predators are not attracted to the area and this is generally complied with. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 18

23 Beach Use People using the beach for swimming, walking picnicking etc are requested to use the south beach, which is the main bathing beach. There is a roped accessway to north beach and the NZ fairy tern nesting area is roped off. Dogs Dogs are an issue at Pakiri and the warden requests visitors with unleashed dogs to stay on south beach. The Auckland Council Dog Policy is that on less popular beaches (like Pakiri) there are no restrictions on dog access the year round 23. On popular beaches, dogs are banned between 9am and 7pm from the first week of October to the 3 rd week of March. DOC can nominate a protected area and dog restrictions can be introduced by way of a by-law. Legal Protection To provide stronger ability to manage people and dog access it is proposed that a wildlife refuge is established at the Pakiri Estuary and adjoining beach under the Wildlife Act. Agreement of the various landowners would be required. As the NZ fairy tern and dotterels move to nest between the north and south sides of the Estuary both beaches would need to be considered. Trapping Lack of predator trap barrier on south beach is a problem for NZ fairy tern. Predators could gain access to the nesting site on the north beach by way of this unprotected area. As the owners are firm that they do not wish trapping to be done it is recommended the warden continue the present trapping regime and encourage birds to nest in the protected area. DOC has weeded, provided coloured shell and roped off an additional prospective nesting site on the north beach, located closer to the dunes and adjacent to the wardens usual vantage point, to provide a second alternative protected nesting site. The aim is to encourage the birds to nest on the north beach where they are protected by trapping and the presence of the warden Summary 1. Intensive site and species management at Pakiri has resulted in successful NZ fairy tern nesting, and the chicks are being fledged and independent by the end of January each year. 2. Continuity of personnel with an experienced warden has produced a very effective management regime. 3. DOC should request the Auckland Council apply dog controls on Pakiri Estuary in the NZ fairy tern breeding season (or the breeding season for all threatened bird species). 4. Establishment of a wildlife refuge under the Wildlife Act over north and south beach, and Pakiri Estuary should be discussed with landowners and local residents. This is to provide increased legal ability to manage the threats to NZ fairy tern during their breeding season. 23 Rodney District Bylaw 1998 Chapter 15 Dog Control A Bylaw Prepared under Section 20 Dog Control Act 1996 to give effect to the Rodney District Dog Policy 2004 ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 19

24 2.4 Waipu Waipu is on the east coast of Bream Bay, south of Whangarei. It supports two to three pairs of NZ fairy tern. It has been a very successful breeding site over the years, but harbour works at the estuary mouth may have affected NZ fairy tern habitat in some seasons. Other threatened shore birds breed at the site including NZ dotterel and variable oystercatcher, and a range of international and national migratory birds uses the estuary. Figure 5: Waipu NZ Fairy tern breeding area NZ fairy tern nest sites ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 20

25 2.4.1 Habitat characteristics The Waipu site includes a small estuary formed from the outflow of the Waipu River with a sand spit along the ocean edge. There has been a physical change in the configuration of Waipu Estuary and Spit following the Northland Harbour Board building a rock groyne in This directed the flow of the Waipu River directly out to sea to provide permanent stable boat access to the sea 24. The Estuary is no longer flushed by the flow of the river but relies on tidal flushing only. It is gradually silting up with corresponding growth of vegetation on the tidal flats below high water (eel grass) with native primrose, rushes and various other coastal plant species on the sand/shell flats above the high water mark. The Spit was previously predominantly open sand dunes with sparse vegetation. Now it is becoming vegetated with spinifex and other dune species. Historically at the site NZ fairy tern nested on extensive flat open sandy areas with shell substrate, below the dunes, but above the spring high tide mark on the northwestern inside of the Spit. These sites are protected from easterly storms and wave action and are adjacent to foraging areas in the Estuary. The most recent attempt at nesting on the north-western side of the Spit was in the late 1990s. The diversion of the River and subsequent silting of the Estuary has led to old nesting sites being invaded by native and exotic vegetation. This reduces their attractiveness to NZ fairy tern as nesting sites. Recent storms have cleared the vegetation again. The two pairs of NZ fairy tern currently nest in a very restricted narrow band of flat open sand/ shell substrate on the south-eastern side of the Estuary below the dunes. Some of the nests are barely above the high tide mark and are very vulnerable to nest loss through wave action, high tides and storms. A nesting site at the very northern tip of the spit where the river enters the ocean has in the past been used by NZ fairy tern Legal Status, Plans, Land-Coastal Use Waipu Spit has dual status of Wildlife Refuge under the Wildlife Act 1953 (NZ Gazette 1969 P.403.) and Government Purpose (Wildlife Refuge) Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977, administered by DOC. The Wildlife Refuge boundaries take in the waters of the Estuary and the Waipu River mouth. Whangarei District Plan The Waipu Spit Wildlife Refuge and Government Purpose Wildlife Reserve are zoned Open Space in the Whangarei District Plan. The rules for land zoned Open Space do not make any specific provision for the protection of the habitat of threatened wildlife. The private land adjacent to the Wildlife Refuge on the north bank of the Waipu River is zoned Coastal Countryside. There is no specific provision in the Whangarei District Scheme for the protection of the habitat of threatened adjoining the e Estuary and Refuge. 24 Approved by the Northland Harbour Board MD (Harbours Act) 11 January Information provided by Toby Kay, Natural Hazards Officer (Rivers) Northland Regional Council in telephone conversation 19/07/2010 ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 21

26 Northland Regional Coastal Plan The waters and seabed of the Estuary and river mouth are zoned Marine 1 (Protection) Management Area Management Programme Due to declining resources the seasonal full time warden at Waipu was discontinued by DOC for the 2009/10 season. Instead DOC provided the same warden for four days per week, another DOC staff member was made available for the fifth day and volunteers were wardens on the other two days. This resulted in less time allocated directly to NZ fairy tern management in the field at Waipu compared to other sites. This situation including the differing people rostered on for warden duties may have contributed to the poor success in NZ fairy tern breeding at Waipu in Conservation Issues Cat Predation Cats are the most significant problem for NZ fairy tern at Waipu Spit. Cats have caused the deaths of adult breeding birds and predated eggs over the past two seasons. In the 2009/10 season all the breeding attempts failed at Waipu a total of none eggs laid. There was a similarly unproductive season. Trapping has traditionally concentrated on cat invasion from the south end of the Spit but it now appears possible that cats can access the western end of the Spit by crossing the now shallow Estuary at night at low tide. Habitat Management The flow of the river no longer flushes the Estuary resulting in gradual silt accumulation and invasion of previously open sandy shelly flats above high water by vegetation. This has also caused the channel to silt up and become much shallower. Traditional NZ fairy tern nesting sites on the western side of the Spit have been rendered unsuitable to the birds by the vegetation growth. Now NZ fairy terns nest on the open ocean side of the Spit on sandy shelly flats below the dunes. There is only a very narrow space between the foot of the dunes and the high tide mark so the nests located here are vulnerable to very high tides and easterly storms. Also, NZ fairy tern attempting to nest on the northern tip of the Spit have to compete with other shore birds for space as do any birds prospecting on the northern shoreline of the river. Alternative Nesting Sites on western side of Waipu Spit Storm events remain a significant concern for nests located on the exposed eastern side of the Spit. With habitat modifications NZ fairy tern could be encouraged to return to some of the historical nesting sites on the protected western side of the Spit. Removal of vegetation and additional of shell has been undertaken here in recent times, but NZ fairy terns are yet to establish at these sites. However, it would be well worth pursuing this management technique as NZ fairy tern are known to move nesting sites based on changing physical habitats in the coastal environment. Dogs Dogs can be a problem at Waipu as local residents and visitors with dogs are able to access the Spit easily at low tide across the shallow channel. 25 PostOp Report for NZ fairy tern breeding season Waipu Wildlife Refuge And overview of Northland NZ fairy tern project 2009/2010. Abby Meagher, DOC ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 22

27 Wardens It is recommended that the way the warden scheme is operated at Waipu is reviewed. Technical support to locate nests and set up an effective predator trapping regime as well as a full time warden should improve NZ fairy tern breeding outcomes. This regime of intensive site and species management appears to be successful at the other sites. Inter Specific Competition The destruction of an (infertile) NZ fairy tern egg by a variable oystercatcher (Pridham & Zimmerman pers.comm.) is a concern at Waipu. Creating NZ fairy tern nesting sites away from areas where VOCs nest may prevent this from happening at Waipu, or removing sizeable debris suitable for VOC nesting and actively managing VOCs away from potential fairy tern nesting sites Summary 1. Waipu is a critical breeding site for NZ fairy tern recovery. Management issues leading to significant nesting failure needs to be actively addressed by DOC. The short to medium term future of the NZ fairy tern breeding population at Waipu is dependent on intensive nesting site and predator management. Resumption of a full time warden is recommended as this approach has been successful at other sites. 2. The eastern beach front nesting sites have proved highly vulnerable to weather related events. Management techniques to encourage NZ fairy tern to shift to protected nesting sites should continue. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 23

28 3.0 POTENTIAL BREEDING SITES This section identifies potential NZ fairy tern breeding sites outside the current four breeding sites. This is a response to the increasing rate of coastal residential development at three of the breeding sites (Pakiri, Waipu and Mangawhai) and the increasing impacts of human use, predominately recreational use, on all four sites (including Papakanui Spit). It may become necessary to provide alternative sites should any of the current four breeding sites become unsuitable or no breeding output can be achieved despite best efforts. Alternatively should improved management at the four current breeding sites lead to a significant increase in breeding output these potential sites would provide alternative location for re-establishment of new populations. Potential NZ fairy tern breeding sites were assessed for three characteristics (advice from Gwen Pulham & Rangi Zimmerman): presence of habitat characteristics known to be necessary for breeding success; sites which could offer good potential NZ fairy tern breeding habitat with some site modification; and/or the ability to ensure long term protection of the sites from human development and activities. (Re)establishment of NZ fairy tern breeding sites There is as yet no known method to relocate NZ fairy tern to new sites. The adult breeding birds are highly territorial and loyal to traditional breeding and nesting sites, which would mean that relocated adult breeding birds are highly likely to return to their previous breeding sites. As NZ fairy tern chicks and fledglings are highly dependent on their parents for tuition in foraging for a relatively long period of time post fledging, it is unlikely that raising captive chicks for l release into the wild would succeed. Research on NZ fairy tern relocation techniques are unlikely to be possible due to their critically endangered status, but could be undertaken on related tern species.however, this is likely to take some time to organize and undertake the research. In the meantime improved management at the current breeding sites is essential to provide sufficient numbers to re-establish new breeding sites. Intensive management of the nesting and chick raising habitat for instance will provide information to apply at new sites. This will include the focus on adequate legal protection of the sites, management human disturbance and predator control but also enhancement of habitat features. Sites beyond the current habitat range of NZ fairy terns were assessed so as to provide longterm options to (re)establish fairy tern breeding sites when the expertise is developed to transfer either adult or fledged young. It is important that these sites are protected from development so the option as future fairy tern breeding sites is not lost in the interim. 3.1 Methods Sites selected for assessment as breeding habitat were based on various experts knowledge of Northland and Auckland coastal bird breeding and flocking sites, and on the literature that identifies that NZ fairy tern once ranged from the Far North of Northland to the northern South Island. Sites assessed within the current habitat range of NZ fairy terns were regarded as close proximity sites, and sites outside the current range as outer proximity sites. All ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 24

29 sites were known to have at least some of the physical characteristics required by breeding NZ fairy tern, and for the outer proximity sites they were situated in more remote locations away from intensive coastal development and human disturbance. Current knowledge suggests that proximity to currently used sites is thought to be a critical factor in the likelihood of successfully establishing new NZ fairy tern breeding sites. The sites were inspected between May and June 2010 by Rangi Zimmerman, and reported in Part 2 of this Report. Twenty four sites were prioritised for assessment, of which 21 were visited, two sites were not visited, and for a further site, access was denied. Sites not visited were assessed using published data and expert opinion. Assessment of the four current breeding sites and one roosting/loafing site was also undertaken in a similar manner to identify key factors that NZ fairy tern appear to prefer Assessment Criteria Potential NZ fairy tern breeding sites were assessed for the following criteria: Nesting habitat suitability The presence of an extensive flat open sandy site, free from vegetation and debris, with shell fragments (colours orange - particularly Pecten/scallop - grey and white), below the fore dune but well above the spring high tide mark. The site would ideally be protected from the reach of storm driven waves and exposure to wind driven sand dunes. Foraging habitat suitability The presence of a permanent clear running stream, river or tidal estuary with high water quality and good water clarity for foraging. The presence of preferred NZ fairy tern prey species was noted where observed. Streams with a high level of tannin or discolouration are not usually preferred by foraging NZ fairy tern. Potential Population size The potential for the site to support NZ fairy tern breeding pairs was estimated from the area of suitable nesting habitat available at each site. NZ fairy terns are solitary nesters and require considerable space between breeding territories. Coastal bird management programme effectiveness and sustainability The presence of an effective protection programme, including how comprehensive the programme is (predator control, habitat manipulation e.g. vegetation removal or addition of shell, supervision during the breeding season, enforcement of regulations to keep people and dogs out of breeding sites, advocacy for protection of the sites and sustainability of the programme (volunteer support, funding security and adequacy, resourcing to maintain a predator trap line). Opportunities to implement a new bird protection programme were considered. Also, the proximity to other coastal bird protection programmes to facilitate management. Coastal settlements The presence of nearby coastal residential developments with the associated disturbance issues is a key factor for suitability of a site for NZ fairy tern breeding. Sites remote from settlements are more likely to have low visitation by people (unless they are high use recreation sites). Large settlements were considered to cause a greater impact on breeding NZ fairy terns. The potential for residential development through land use zoning and proximity to large population centres was also considered. Recreational activity The type and scale of recreational activities, and the impact on NZ fairy terns was considered. People walking through breeding sites and the presence of free ranging dogs was considered to be the most harmful to NZ fairy terns, while vehicles running over nests and chicks, water activities (fishing, board sailing), and kite sailing in breeding areas also had an adverse ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 25

30 impact. It was considered that the higher the concentration of people and dogs the more harmful the impact on NZ fairy terns. While the level of recreational activity was mostly related to the proximity of settlements, some sites are highly desirable recreational destinations, despite their relative remoteness. The presence of a camping ground can influence the scale of recreational activity. Protection status The presence and type of legal protection status over breeding habitat, including foraging habitat during the breeding season affects the range of management interventions (visitor entry and management, dog control, predator control etc). The adequacy of enforcement of access restrictions was also considered Site Rankings A matrix was developed to score each site against the chosen criteria. Based on the score sites were divided into the following categories: Excellent >24 High Medium Low < Results of site assessments The assessment of potential breeding sites for NZ fairy tern, as well as for the sites NZ fairy tern currently inhabit is shown in Table 1 (for the location of sites refer to Figure 6). Details of the ranking are provided in Appendix 2. Of the three potential sites rated as excellent, one site, Big Sand Island (Kaipara Harbour) is within the current habitat range of NZ fairy tern (close proximity site). Kokota Spit is rated as excellent but is well outside the current NZ fairy tern breeding range. Other sites regarded as close proximity sites which were rated as high for their value as breeding habitat include Bird Island, which is near to Big Sand Island and Poutawa which is near to the Pakiri breeding site. Ruakaka is a recently abandoned breeding site, attributable to the large scale human disturbance at that site. There would be a considerable challenge to reduce the scale of human disturbance at Ruakaka. Walker Id (Rangaunu Harbour) is beyond the current range of NZ fairy terns (outer proximity site), and is a small site that would likely only support a low number of breeding pairs. Sites ranked as of medium value for NZ fairy tern habitat should be considered for protection, rehabilitation or enhancement where they are close proximity sites (Te Arai Canal, Omaha, Okaro Creek-Poutu), or are geographically close to outer proximity sites ranked excellent (Kaitoke and Awana Bay on Great Barrier Island, are close to Whangapoua, a site ranked as excellent). ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 26

31 Of the currently used breeding sites Mangawhai and Papakanui Spit ranked the highest these are also the sites that support the most NZ fairy tern pairs and produce the most chicks. The large area of these two sites has the potential to support a much larger NZ fairy tern breeding population, but requires considerable protection and management efforts to realize this potential. Detailed assessments of close proximity sites with a medium, high or excellent rating and outer proximity sites with an excellent rating or for all sites on Great Barrier Island are provided in Appendix 2. ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 27

32 Figure 6: Location of current and potential New Zealand fairy tern breeding habitat ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY of NEW ZEALAND Page 28