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DOC and Defence Force protect NZ fairy tern

The NZ fairy tern is NZ’s rarest breeding bird with a population of only 40 birds (11-12 breeding pairs). There are only 4 nesting sites: all in Northland. One of the sites is on the Royal New Zealand Air Force weapons range at Papakanui Spit, at the Kaipara Harbour.

Luckily for the birds this is a no-go area for the public and the Air Force provides more protection by not using the site during the breeding season. Now the Defence Force is stepping up its support by creating some raised nesting sites to protect the birds from extreme tides and storms.

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