The Littlejohns didn’t want their cattle trampling the eggs so they’ve given dotterels dominion while taking aim at predators.
You’ll find dotterels, not cattle, on several acres of Merv and Sandra Littlejohn’s Waihī Beach farm.
The Littlejohns have discovered several of the endangered tūturiwhatu on their 51-hectare property over the past few weeks – and shifted a herd of 55 cattle away to protect the birds.
With dark beaks, brown cloaked backs and stained orange bellies, the birds had wandered two kilometres inland from their usual nesting area.
