The couple protecting Kaikōura's precious banded dotterels

Male protecting young foraging on the beach (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

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Newly hatched chick sleeping after hatching. As soon as it wakes, it will be ready to leave the nest for good and begin existence of wandering the beach. (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Female dotterel foraging for food in non breeding plumage, non breeding season (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Male on nest with new chick peeping out (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Male adult in flight (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

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(PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Female assumes fake broken wing, a distraction display when potential predator is very close to nest or chick (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Dotterel nests are very highly camouflage. Usual clutch size, 3 eggs. (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

A dotterel pair in the process of building the scrape where they will lay their eggs (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Dotterel family with young chick (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)

Close up, adult on nest (PHOTO: Ailsa McGilvary-Howard and Ted Howard)