Extremely rare native bird found washed up on Hawke's Bay beach, autopsy reveals small holes in chest

 A tūturuatu (shore plover), one of New Zealand's rarest animals, has been found dead after washing up on a Hawke's Bay beach. 

The bird, named Obow, had small pinprick sized holes in its chest, a team at Massey University found during an autopsy. 

DOC Hawke's Bay operations manager Connie Norgate said the findings suggested the bird could have been killed by a predator, as it otherwise appeared in good health. 

"Tūturuatu are highly susceptible to predation – a single rat can wipe out an entire population."

There are only 250 left in the New Zealand wild.

Waikawa Island, off Chatham Island, has been used to create a habitat for breeding of the bird. 

"The more secure and safe population that can be built up will mean that this species has a better chance of survival," Ms Norgate said. 

"It also means that every single one of these birds count if we are going to save them from extinction."

If you see a tūturuatu, DOC asks to report Nature Watch or to your local DOC office.