Nearly 3,000 birds were recorded when Birds New Zealand conducted its latest, bi-annual bird count at Ōhiwa in early November 2024. Birds New Zealand / Te Kāhui Mātai Manu o Aotearoa is the Ornithological Society for New Zealand. The organisation fosters the study, knowledge, and enjoyment of birds. Local organiser of the bird count, Meg Collins, and nine other people counted at nine locations. Meg said, ‘one standout this year is the return of the breeding colony of Caspian terns and white-fronted terns on Whangakopikopiko’. ‘It is unusual for white-fronted terns to nest in the same place every year, but I suspect there are less suitable spots for the birds’.
Whangakopikopiko, also known as Tern Island, used to be one island but was cut in half by the forces of the tides over a year ago. The channel between the western and eastern end of the island appears to be continually widening. The reduced space also meant that oystercatchers had to move over to the shore. Two large flocks of variable oystercatchers and south pied oystercatchers were spotted in the paddock opposite Whangokopikopiko. They may leave shortly to fly back to the South Island rivers.
Back on the island, there were 150 white-fronted terns, 25 Caspian terns and a handful of red-billed gulls at the time of counting, but Meg expected more birds flying in each day. As the birds started to lay, the Ōhiwa Reserves Care Group erected signs around the eastern end of the harbour advising people to keep off the island, especially with dogs. In mid-January the care group was pleased to report that people had largely stayed away from the precious breeding ground. This year there were over 400 birds nesting on the east end of Whangakopikpiko.
Further bird count observations in the Ōhiwa Harbour included:
No banded dotterels (Pohowera) on the beach. Usually there are one or two pairs that nest on Ōhiwa beach.
42 dotterels (Tūturiwhatu), which have spread all around the harbour, rather than concentrating on Ōhope Spit.
1,978 bar-tailed godwits (kuaka) in three distinctive flocks, a similar figure to 2024 figures.
108 black-backed gulls (Karoro), an increase of last year.
163 pied oystercatchers, up from last year.
Surveys are undertaken over several estuaries in New Zealand and the data is used by universities, environmental groups and government departments to monitor trends in the bird world.
In the big tides of December and early January the Caspian and white-fronted tern colony on Whangakopikpiko got washed out twice. Against all odds, three quarters of the 150 white-fronted terns, 10 of the Caspian terns and all of the red and black billed gulls, about 40 chicks, had fledged by late January.
(Sources: Eastern Bay App, Meg Collins, Birds New Zealand)
