2025/26 Breeding Begins!
Marie and Sue have observed 15 pairs of dotterels who are defending their territories in preparation to breed. Very exciting, but of course we are anxious about the unresolved issue of cats and dogs intruding into the Sanctuary.
Predator Fence Extension
Ōmaha Shorebird Protection Trust has long advocated the extension of the predator fence to below the low tide line on the estuary side to deter cats from entering the Sanctuary for nighttime hunting. Cats are a particular threat during the breeding season, August to February, when the male dotterel does night duty on the nest.
The Ōmaha Shorebird Sanctuary is a community park managed by the Rodney Local Board. While Auckland Councillors, some Council staff, the current Mayor, residents’ associations and community conservation groups support extending the fence, we hear loud and clear that it will need to be community funded.
Trustees are working with Richard Brabant, a resource management lawyer (retired) who is leading the consenting project in conjunction with Peter Hall, planning consultant and principal author of a feasibility study facilitated by David and Jill Stone. The first step is finalising the fence design for the consent application document. Once this is complete, we will kick off a community fundraising programme.
ScanACat
You may have heard of the device developed by a local conservationist for scanning the microchip of cats that pass through it. The device is only useful if there is a process of following up with the cats’ owners. Council’s biosecurity team are working through the data access, privacy and process issues with the Companion Animals Register. Once these issues are resolved, we can borrow the ScanACat device to trial in the Sanctuary, or build our own using Becky Swan’s open-source design.
The purpose of the Sanctuary is Wildlife Protection
All community parks have a specified purpose, and the Trust sought a change to ensure ‘Wildlife Protection’ was the purpose of all the land parcels that make up the Ōmaha Shorebird Sanctuary. Rodney Local Board agreed to this change in late 2024, and Council’s planning team is doing the legal paperwork. This is a great result, and thanks are due to trustees (present and past) and supporters for their advocacy work.
New Dotterel Minders
New trustees Lesley Barley and Jo Strahan attended a one-day dotterel management course held at Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebirds Centre, funded by Auckland Council. Course alumni Sue Cook and Marie Ward remain integral to the monitoring and protection of breeding birds at Ōmaha. Last season, waves took out at least six nests at Ōmaha, and having two more trained volunteers on hand could help lift and shift more nests to make it through this summer. Thanks to Miller's Coffee Roasters (best coffee in the city!), we have a supply of hessian sacks this year to sandbag nests against the waves.
Ōmaha Shorebird Tea Towel
Showcasing Omaha’s wonderful shorebirds on an organic cotton tea towel designed by Ali Davies with expert input from Marie and Sue. Designed to strengthen community connection to our shorebirds and raise funds for their protection. Thanks to Dan Marrow, our local Community Park Ranger, for assistance with this project. Purchase and pricing details to come - just in time for Christmas!
Beach Patrol Officers
Community calls for better monitoring and enforcement of Council bylaws have been heeded. In addition to the local compliance wardens who work with OBC Inc., Insite Security and Police on the many and varied issues that pop up during the busy summer months, there will be two environmental officers actively engaging with visitors to Rodney’s busy beaches.
Trustees are working with Council to inform the recruits about the shorebirds and the Sanctuary. We hope they can be present at the Sanctuary two hours either side of high tide on the busiest summer weekends and public holidays to inform and encourage visitors toward the main beach and the estuary.
Governance
Trustees are meeting on 3 September. The Charities Service requires an annual financial report for the year ended March 2025, which has been submitted. Last financial year the Trust’s funds remained stable at around $12K, with minimal revenue and expenditure.
Trustees are developing an Action Plan for the next 12 months, and working with other groups with a common cause, including Takatu Land Care, Restore Rodney East and the community-led action plan of the Whangateau Catchment Collective.
Sanctuary Signage
Some of our signs are in very poor condition, and do not give people the impression that the Sanctuary is a much-loved special place. Trustees have met with Auckland Council staff in the Environmental Services and Community Facilities teams, who are supportive of improved signage at and around the Sanctuary. The next step is for the Trust to submit a more detailed needs analysis with specific proposals.
Advocacy
Set Netting – trustees drafted a letter to Auckland Council and MPI, who both have decision-making powers in relation to set netting, and are currently seeking the support of other community groups to join our call for better enforcement of the existing summer ban and to extend the ban year-round for the beach and harbour.
Rodney Local Board Elections
Rodney Local Board manages community parks including the Omaha Shorebird Sanctuary, making them one of our most important stakeholders. Ōmaha sits in the new Warkworth Subdivision of the Ward. Voting opens 9 September to 11 October. Bach owners can register for a Ratepayer Electoral Vote. If you are interested in meeting the prospective board members, Snells Beach Residents Assoc. is hosting Warkworth candidates upstairs at the Salty Dog Inn on Monday 1 September at 7 pm.
Kiwi on our doorstep!
Last but not least, how exciting that The Forest Bridge Trust’s Kiwi Count sees kiwi percolating out of Tawharanui and coming our way. Fantastic work by TOSSI and the Ōmaha trappers!
Thanks again on behalf of Trustees Lesley Barley, Sue Cook, Jo Strahan and Marie Ward.