Dotterel chicks

WALT: look beyond the text.

The New Zealand Dotterel is an endangered species found only in New Zealand.It was once widespread and common,but now there are only 1700 Dotterel birds left,

There camouflaged coluers makes them difficult to see when there standing stilll, but their habit of running quickly and pausing to feed makes them easy to identify.

NZ Dotterels are shorebirds, usually found on sandy beaches and sandspits or feeding on tidal estuaries.

They are mostly pale-grey on the back, with off-white underparts which become flushed with rusty-orange in winter and spring. They have a prominent head, large dark-brown eyes and a strong black bill.


Sometimes if you see a Dotterel on the beach they run up to you then go back. It looks like it's distracting you from something but it's trying to protect it nest and lead you away. It nest is amongest the sand and driftwood. People are careful when they see Dotterels. The reason why is because there aren't that much Dotterel left in New Zealand.