The total population of New Zealand fairy tern/tara iti is fewer than 40 birds, making them critically endangered. Introduction. The fate of New Zealand’s rarest bird, the dainty taraiti (New Zealand fairy tern) is closely tied to the fate of New Zealand’s sandy beaches. This season, with the help of … Around half of the ten or so New Zealand Fairy Tern pairs remaining in the world breed at the beautiful Northland harbour of Mangawhai. The most endangered bird in New Zealand is getting help from an unlikely source in building safer nests. In Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia fairy terns Sterna nereis inhabit sheltered coasts on the mainland as well as inshore and offshore islands. Instead fairy terns jostle for space on beaches north of Auckland. Management of the three remaining breeding sites was initiated during 1983/84 and intensified from 1991 onwards. 5. The population was declining prior to the mid 1980s. New Zealand’s rarest bird has just had a boost in numbers, with the Department of Conservation welcoming three new fairy tern/tara iti chicks. The increase of human activity on their nesting grounds (often, popular beaches) is a major threat to these birds. This information report is all about the New Zealand Fairy Tern .The New Zealand Fairy is placed number 1 on the New Zealand endangered species list with only 30 left in the species.It maori name is the Tara-iti and its common name is the Fairy Tern The New Zealand fairy tern/tara iti is New Zealand’s most threatened bird. They nest on the enormous sandspit where the Department of Conservation and NZ Fairy Tern Trust maintain a trapping programme for predators and the nests are closely monitored during the breeding season. The New Zealand fairy tern Sterna nereis davisae has only one small population of c.30 individuals and its conservation is a pri- ority. It has a national threat classification status of ‘Nationally Critical’ and is prioritised for management in DOC’s conservation planning system. New Zealand fairy tern. A no-fly zone has been imposed over part of Mangawhai to protect the country's most endangered birds, tara iti/fairy tern. However in recent years the so-called Mangawhai Harbou Fairy terns are confined to Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, with endemic subspecies in each country. Facts Summary: The Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "birds" and found in the following area(s): Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand. 1. The New Zealand fairy tern Sterna nereis davisae has only one small population of c.30 individuals and its conservation is a priority. Caring for precious balls of fairy tern fluff The most endangered bird in New Zealand doesn’t get the luxury of a pest and people free island sanctuary. The population was declining prior to the mid 1980s. 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