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Mangawhai attracts a wide range of New Zealand bird species, including the New Zealand Fairy Tern, New Zealands rarest endemic bird. Mangawhai lodge is an ideal destination for bird watching groups. We cater for individuals, couples or birding groups- plese contact us for quotes.
The Bird Refuge , estuarine harbour, mudflats, shoreline and sandspit of Mangawhai provide a rich source of food for several shorebirds and is the home of seven threatened and four "at risk" shorebirds species. Mangawhai is the most important breeding site for two of them, the NZ Fairy Tern and NZ Northern Dotterel. (Dr John Dowding - renowned bird researcher).
Mangawhai lodge is a great venue for bird watchers to site a wide range of New Zealand birdlife, both bush and shorebird species. A wide range of birds breed and inhabit the Mangawhai Coast with several other breeding sites within 1-2 hours drive enabling birders to view a wide range of rare bird species.
The Caspian Tern, The Northern New Zealand Dotterel, Banded Dotterel, Variable Oystercatcher, South Island Oyster Catcher are common to the Mangawhai area, most breed in the early summer months.
Turnstones and Godwits migrate from Alaska and Siberia arriving late September and leave in late March and early April. A Black Shag colony breed and live in a tree at the far end of the famous Mangawhai Cliff Top Walkway.
Birds commonly seen around Mangawhai Lodge include:
The Tui - this nector feeding bird purch on the top branch of the Norfolk Pine waiting to have their photo taken, along with the Kingfisher, Silver eye and Fantails these are some of my favourite native birds which visit Mangawhai Lodge on a regular basis.
The New Zealand Fairy Tern
Visit below clip to view birds. The Fairy Terns have started nesting in early November.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yprf9E1wBdY
This small seabird nests in 3 areas on the East Coast, North of Auckland and a site on the Kaipara. Mangawhai has the largest number of NZ Fairy Terns with 5 breeding pairs for the summer of 2009-10.
The New Zealand Fairy Tern is one of the most endangered birds in New Zealand.
Some Fairy Tern can live for up to 16 years, they starts breeding from 2-3 years of age. They differ from the New Caladonian and Australian Fairy Terns in that they breed in solo pairs, not in colonies. Introduced mammalian preditors, easterly storms including cyclones and disturbance during the breeding season by people using the beaches have all impacted on the birds abililty to breed successfully.
In the early 1980's the number of New Zealand Fairy Terns (Taraiti) had dropped to 3 breeding pairs. Through the monitoring and capture of predators by the Dept of Conservation and volunteers the numbers have slowly increased. There are now just under 40 birds. Recently The New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust was formed to help the Fairy Tern survive and prosper. Should you wish to offer support to this trust please contact Mangawhai Lodge and we can put you in touch. They are currently building a website.
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