Eggs of critically endangered bird disappear in New Zealand

Critically endannegered Fairy tern. Credit DOC

December 2009. Two New Zealand fairy tern eggs have gone missing from the Mangawhai Wildlife Refuge in New Zealand's Northland, and Department of Conservation wardens are investigating different scenarios as to what has caused the disappearance.

Probably taken by humans
High on the list is the possibility of the eggs being taken. Human footprints were found leading to the shell area that the birds were nesting in. Nesting sites are fenced and have extensive signage and the footprints could not be accounted for by the onsite warden.

The nest contained two eggs, one live and one 'dummy' egg (an infertile egg filled with wax) which was being used as part of a nest management scheme. For the 'dummy' egg to have completely disappeared indicates that the loss was unlikely to have been caused by a predator. Extensive trapping and monitoring of this site has not indicated the presence of any predators likely to have taken these eggs.