Fairy tern
I spent some time with a Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis) at Ruakaka on 22 October. Beautiful little birds. Unfortunately the New Zealand subspecies (tara iti) is Nationally Critical: only ~50 birds over a year old and 11 breeding pairs as of the March 2026 survey. The first time I saw one with my own eyes was last week at Omaha Spit. This time I had a longer lens so I could get a good photo while still keeping my distance. But now that I have had this experience I think I will avoid seeking them out again. Loving nature from afar seems to be the safest way to ensure they can have a chance to thrive.
