Reef Heron showing breeding plumes on its back |
How do you tell the difference between a white-faced heron and a reef heron?
Reef heron |
White-faced heron |
What can you do to help endangered shore birds?
Reporting sightings is useful and helps scientists learn more enough about endangered birds. But what else can you do?
According to the Department of Conservation, threats to shore birds include:
- Loss of habitat - for example subdivisions and developments
- Predation - introduced predators such as cats, dogs, rats, stoats etc
- Environmental threats - high tides, floods, storms - these affect nests or food sources
- Loss of young - through parent birds being scared off nests or killed
- People's recreational activities - people driving on beaches, disturbing nests
Here's some ideas of ways we can help counter these threats, some easy, some not so easy:
- Help trap predators such as rats and stoats, join a local predator free group or volunteer to check traps.
- Keep dogs on lead when going near bird nesting areas during the nesting season or when penguins are moulting.
- If you have a cat, consider keeping it indoors and not replacing it.
- Don't drive on beaches and keep away from nesting birds, try not to disturb feeding birds.
- Find out about safe fishing practices as some shore birds such as shags can get caught in fishing lines.
- Help keep beaches clean of rubbish, such as plastics.
- As climate change is increasing environmental threats, consider what part you can play in reducing the impacts of climate change.
Related blogs:
Birds at the Beach - vulnerable and at riskUseful links:
NZ Birds Online http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/reef-heron
Department of Conservation http://www.doc.govt.nz
Project Hot Spot https://www.hotspot.org.nz