Endangered dotterel family killed by cat, devastating Auckland volunteers

Caroline Williams Reporter from Rodney Times

A photographer is distraught after the dotterel family she had been documenting was killed by a cat.

Michele​ Mackenzie, a resident of Snells Beach, has been posting updates on dotterel breeding pair Dott and Donald to her Facebook page since 2019.

Mackenzie, who has had a passion for birds since she was 4 years old, hoped giving the birds names and a narrative would raise awareness of the at-risk species.

Work by volunteers to protect Dott and Donald's nest was rewarded when on November 23, when Dott and Donald successfully hatched two chicks, which volunteers named the Dottettes.

But on Monday, Mackenzie was distraught to discover Donald and the Dottettes had been killed by a cat, leaving Dott alone and confused about her partner’s whereabouts.

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