EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THE BEHAVIOR OF NORTHERN NEW-ZEALAND DOTTEREL CHARADRIUS-OBSCURUS-AQUILONIUS CHICKS

Human disturbance is one of the factors that may contribute to low bre eding success in the endangered New Zealand dotterel Charadrius obscur us aquilonius. This study examined how foraging and related behaviours of northern New Zealand dorterel chicks were affected by human presen ce. Chicks were observed both in the presence, and in the controlled a bsence, of people. Results showed that, when people were present, chic ks spent less of their feeding time in the littoral zone, and more in the supralittoral zone, and in general spent less time feeding I-when people were present. These data suggest that the littoral zone may be more desirable for foraging than is the supralittoral zone, and that h igh levels of human disturbance may infer energetic constraints on New Zealand dotterel chicks. Fledging success of chicks may be enhanced i f human access to feeding areas adjacent to breeding sites is reduced during the chick-rearing phase of the breeding season. (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science Ltd.