A rare sighting on Ashburton bird tour
As part of the recently reviewed Ashburton Shorebird Habitat Management Strategy, the Te Matapuna Girl Guides were taken on an educational tour of the Ashburton hāpua bird platform.
It was cards and choccies all round for some of our Ashburton kaimahi/staff, with the local Girl Guides showing their appreciation for our Land management and Biodiversity Officers Jess Cochrane and Michelle Ingham.
As part of the tour, and unsure what they would find at the platform, Jess and Michelle set up some corflute birds along the track, asking the tamariki to identify the various kinds on show.
Along the track, the team checked in on a trap with the girls very excited to see a half-eaten rat pulled out.
Further on, the team arrived at the platform and while there, were able to see some Caspian terns, pied stilts and a couple of banded dotterels.
Adding to their experience, Jess and the crew were very surprised to see a black fronted dotterel just metres away - with these birds typically very cautious and best known to hide from people, and noise.
Corflute birds were set up along the way to help the tamariki identify the various kinds on show