I spent some time recently with Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest bird. Not the kākāpō. Not one of our kiwi species. Not the kakī.

tara-iti, the New Zealand Fairy tern, is currently the rarest bird species in Aotearoa. The population numbers around 39 birds, total. There are roughly 7 breeding pairs. And despite the herculean efforts that go in to protecting these birds, they’re far from safe.

tara-iti are coastal seabirds that live around estuaries. They nest on sandy spits in little scrapes, and forage along the channels that appear and disappear as the tide comes and goes. The problem is that their habitat is also very sought after by humans, for beachfront properties, 4WD excursions along the sand, and general recreation. There’s not a lot of good habitat left for tara-iti, and they suffer a lot from human disturbance.

Their eggs and chicks are a target for hungry mammals like rats and cats. Their low-lying nesting habitat can also be swamped by king tides and big storms – events that are set to increase in our volatile climate.

It’s an odd mix of feelings, spending time with the rarest bird in the country. There’s amazement – that they’re still here. I’m sad that we’ve driven them to this, and angry that we can’t do more to look after them. There’s fear. I wonder if it will be the last time I see them, and hope desperately that it isn’t. They are so tiny, which only drives home how vulnerable they are. They’re amazing little birds, hovering and plunging to catch tiny fish. I feel joy in watching them go about their lives. They have no idea how fragile they are. They just get on with it.

The New Zealand Fairy Tern Charitable Trust organises work to help these little birds and their chicks survive – go and lend them a hand if you can.