As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 9 March 2015

Boost for decimated rare bird

By Harrison Christian
5:20 PM Monday Mar 9, 2015

A rare New Zealand bird has received a boost in Hawke's Bay, after a single rat is believed to have ravaged population numbers.

The dwindling population of the endangered New Zealand shore plover in northern Hawke's Bay saw a surge in numbers last Friday, with the release of 20 juvenile birds on to Waikawa - also known as Portland Island.

Department of Conservation (DoC) ranger Helen Jonas said the privately-owned island located off the Mahia Peninsula used to be home to 80 shore plover but a "devastating season" in 2013 saw their numbers reduced to just 10 birds.

"All the evidence pointed to a single rat as the cause, and the rat is now believed to have since died."

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