Beach Chameleons
NZ Dotterels are masters of camouflage - they blend into the
sand, shells and driftwood of the beaches and estuaries where they
live. Their colouring brightens and fades according to the seasons.
They lay their speckled eggs directly in a scrape in the sand where
they are very hard to spot.
So watch where you walk, especially during nesting season:
September to February
Few and Far Between
There are only about 1500 NZ Dotterels left, so please avoid
disturbing them.
Why so few? Cats, dogs, hedgehogs, stoats and rats eat them and
their young. This area is watched over by rangers and volunteers
who protect them from these predators.
The cache is on the left side of the obvious object, as you
look towards the beach.
Little Red Truck