Young tara iti pair may breed at Ruakākā for first time since 1989

A young pair of critically endangered tara iti has been seen at the Ruakākā estuary, raising hopes the birds could breed there again.

The last confirmed record of tara iti breeding at Ruakākā was in 1989. The birds have been fishing in the estuary and have landed on a shell patch prepared for them near the river mouth.

The sightings come as the tara iti population heads into what could be a record breeding season. An estimated 14 to 15 breeding pairs are expected across the population, the highest number recorded for many years.

“While it’s still too early to know whether they’ll nest here this season, seeing them using the shell patch is a really promising first step,” said Department of Conservation (DOC) Tara iti Programme Lead Ayla Wiles.

The pair includes a two-year-old female that was reared at Auckland Zoo. DOC works in partnership with the zoo on the tara iti recovery programme, hand-rearing chicks and releasing them into the wild to grow the wild population.

Because the pair is young and inexperienced, breeding this season is far from certain. The team will be watching closely.

Wiles says the growing number of breeding pairs is creating opportunities for tara iti to expand into areas beyond their established breeding sites.

Community effort at Ruakākā

Over winter, DOC looked at Ruakākā, northern Waipū and Ōmaha as possible new breeding sites. The northern side of the Ruakākā river mouth was chosen for habitat enhancement.

The local hapū Patuharakeke helped prepare a nesting area covered in shell. Bream Bay Coastal Care expanded its predator-trapping network, including four new automated rat and possum traps.

Shell patches suit tara iti, which lay their well-camouflaged eggs directly onto the ground.

Volunteers from Waipū About Tern and Bream Bay Coastal Care have been monitoring activity at Ruakākā ahead of the breeding season. DOC’s seasonal tara iti ranger team will support them as the season goes on.

“Ruakākā is a great example of why it’s important to prepare suitable habitat ahead of time, so these birds have somewhere safe to settle,” Wiles said.

How to help protect tara iti

DOC asks people to stay out of fenced nesting areas and use designated walkways. It also asks people to keep dogs on leads and out of reserves.

People should avoid nests and chicks on beaches and estuaries, and not drive or cycle on beaches. Rubbish, bait and fish scraps should be disposed of properly to deter predators.

The public can now donate directly to DOC’s Tara iti recovery programme through the New Zealand Nature Fund. Donations will help DOC develop three to five new safe breeding sites within the bird’s range.

They will also help create shell patch habitats at existing and new breeding sites, and expand predator control buffers to better protect all nesting areas. Another aim is to grow the hand-rearing and release programme.

More ways to get involved in protecting nature are on DOC’s Always Be Naturing page.