Preparing for a new generation of ‘underbirds’ on Rakiura

This winter, with introduced predators hungry and lurking, critical action is being taken to help one of the world’s most endangered birds produce a new generation of chicks on Rakiura/Stewart Island.

You probably don’t know much about pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel, but the rangers on Rakiura have been battling the elements for decades trying to prevent them from being predated, primarily by feral cats.

Pukunui used to be widespread throughout Te Waipounamu, even found in the Southern Alps, but stoats and cats have decimated their numbers and they now only nest on Rakiura mountain tops.

“Pukunui have swooped under most people’s radar, but they deserve all the protection they can get,” says Guy McDonald who leads DOC’s Pukunui Recovery Team.

“We call them the ‘underbirds’ because they are only found at the bottom of New Zealand, and like many native species, they have a friendly, innocent manner, and are defenceless to introduced predators.’ 

The forest is overrun with predators 

Guy is one of a small team of rangers on Rakiura who control predators around pukunui breeding areas, monitor nests and conduct annual population counts. 

“Our team often works day and night, dealing with all kinds of extreme weather, in the effort to protect some of the last remaining strongholds of pukunui breeding pairs located around the mountains of the Tin Range – Ka Puketuroto.”  

It has been incredibly challenging because the forest is overrun with predators and trapping networks can only cover a small proportion of the habitat. 

Consequently, the pukunui population has plummeted to 105 – down from 176 in 2020 and 300 in 2010.

“Pukunui should live to at least 20-30 years old, but with the huge number of feral cats on the island as well as other predators, most pukunui only survive 4-5 years if they’re lucky,” says Guy.   

“It’s hard on team morale when we find dotterels that have been eaten, especially the ones we have banded and become familiar with. It’s heartbreaking to find their little bodies.”  

But there’s a new plan to reverse the decline, drawing on extra funding from Predator Free 2050 and expertise from DOC’s National Predator Control Programme and Zero Invasive Predators.

Not your average house cat 

Although there aren’t stoats on Rakiura, pukunui are up against another stealthy and ferocious carnivore – the feral cat.   

Feral cats are apex predators which means nothing preys upon them. They can hunt high and low across thousands of hectares of forest and mountains, and they survive by preying upon any animal they can sink their teeth into, including birds, bats, lizards, and insects.  

In response, we’ve begun the first phase of an aerial 1080 operation to reduce the number of rats, feral cats and possums by more than 95% across more than 40,000 hectares of Rakiura National Park.   

We will do this by accurately applying biodegradable 1080 bait pellets from helicopters to support the trapping efforts of the local team.   

“It wouldn’t be possible or safe to cover this remote, rugged terrain with traps alone. It would put our people at risk,” Guy says. 

The use of 1080 is vital for protecting populations of native species across the country. It will heavily reduce predator numbers so pukunui can have a safer, more successful breeding season.  

If we don’t act now, future generations will ask why 

The aim is to increase the population to at least 300 birds by 2035 with predator control. However, if predators can be permanently removed through the Predator Free Rakiura project, this target could be well exceeded.  

“As a team we are excited and nervous because if we are successful, and predators can be eradicated, we may no-longer need a pukunui recovery team,” says Guy.   

“This would be the best marker of success but also the end of an era.” 

Dan Cocker, also known as Dotterel Dan, has been involved in protecting pukunui since 2017 as a teenager.

Dan wants to see these birds become so abundant on Rakiura that they can return to shorelines and mountains throughout Te Waipounamu when it’s safe.  

“When I read books about our extinct native birds, I ask why didn’t they do more? Future generations will ask us this same question, if we don’t take action,” says Dan. 

This isn’t just about pukunui – Rakiura should be bustling with native wildlife, but there’s a deafening silence deep in the forest. Predator Free Rakiura aims to restore the health and abundance of the ecosystem and bring back native species that belong here.   

Donations a boost for pukunui protection   

In 2023 the New Zealand Nature Fund launched a campaign in partnership with DOC to raise funds from donors to support DOC’s Pukunui Recovery Team.

It’s early days but the pukunui team acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Nature Fund and everyone who has donated to this project.  

“Project donations have been vital for expanding our predator control efforts,” Guy says.   

Find out more and support our efforts

Learn more about the plight of the pukunui in this documentary: Underbirds – the Fight to Save the Southern New Zealand Dotterel. 

Learn more about why we use 1080 to protect native species.

Stay up to date with progress on Predator Free Rakiura and the Pukunui Recovery Operation: Removing predators from Stewart Island/Rakiura

Learn more about DOC’s role in Predator Free Rakiura and the species that need our protection: Predator Free Rakiura: Our work