The dotterel 2025/26 breeding season was really successful here at Te Henga Bethells Beach with six chicks fledging - a record! This was extra special as our three resident dotterel families have had their struggles in past years.  

In the 2024 breeding season our first pair laid three eggs that all hatched, but no chick survived. Their second nest was then washed out by a very high tide. This year they laid 3 eggs - two chicks hatched and one survived to banding (JBV) and then fledged successfully. 

Our second pair appear to have egg fertility issues; they laid two batches of three eggs in the 2024 season, but none hatched. This season they started by laying three eggs, of which only one hatched. That chick survived right up until 4 weeks (disappointing as they usually have a very good chance of making it if they get to that age) but disappeared on the day we went to band it. The pair then had a second try, this time laying 4 eggs (very unusual - it’s normally 3) of which two hatched. Those two chicks survived right through to banding (JBY and JBZ) and fledging.  (We presume the unhatched eggs were also infertile.)

The third family consisted of JAW (banded at Karekare in February 2023), who’d been solo on our beach for a couple of years, and a partner who appeared in 2024. They nested three times in 2024/25 - all in unsuitable places and all unsuccessful. However, this year they found a great place to nest, hatched three eggs and were fabulous parents, raising all three chicks through to banding (JBR, JBW and JBX) and successfully fledging. It’s very unusual for dotterels to fledge all three chicks as they’re nidifugous:  the tiny chicks leave the nest looking for food soon after hatching, all running in different directions, leaving them very vulnerable to predators. When banding the chicks, we also managed to catch and band the other parent (HAL). 

Normally our dotterels leave the beach for the rich pickings of local sandbanks and mudflats like the Manukau Harbour, to feed up for the next breeding season and find a mate if they don’t have one (or want a change!). They leave Te Henga at the end of February and return in April and we’re happy to report that both JAW and HAL returned to Te Henga Bethells in April 2026, hopefully to successfully breed again this season.

Dotterel chicks leave their home beach a few weeks after fledging and generally don’t return there to breed.  Several dotterels that were banded here as chicks have been spotted in other locations, including the Manukau and Kaipara harbours and Miranda. In addition, one of our local 2022 chicks (JAM) has set up a family in Taranaki - a long way for a dotterel to fly!