BREEDING SUCCESS AND PREDATION AT NESTS OF BANDED DOTTEREL (CHARADRIUS-BICINCTUS) ON BRAIDED RIVERBEDS IN THE CENTRAL SOUTH ISLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

Egg and chick loss at banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus) nests was studied over the 1992/93 season on the Tekapo, Ohau and Ahuriri River s in the Central South Island. Egg loss at nests was higher on the Oha u and Tekapo Rivers than on the Ahuriri River, especially early in the season. Only 11% and 12% of nests fledged one or more chicks on the T ekapo and Ohau Rivers respectively, compared to 42% of nests on the Ah uriri River. Nests on islands within the braided riverbeds were more s uccessful than nests on the mainland. Proximity of nests to potential predator cover did not influence hatching success although close proxi mity of nests to rabbit burrows increased the risk of predation. A lac k of knowledge of the predator species involved in this study hampers assessment of the impact of various factors on the breeding success of banded dotterels. Further research to identify predators is necessary to target conservation management and better protect banded dotterel and endangered riverbed birds.