Abstract
A comprehensive study has not previously been made of any aspects of the Banded Dotterel's ecology or behaviour. […]
Two study areas were used for this research. One was the environs of Lake Wainono (Fig. 1), a small lagoon on the east coast of the South Island - a typical coastal wintering site for Banded Dotterels, which were present there throughout the year. The behaviour of nonbreeding flocks was observed from January to June 1977 there. Observations in this area were made on feeding preferences, techniques and habitats, daily routines, flock sizes and reactions to predators.
The other study area was the Cass River delta (Fig. 2), near Lake Tekapo. This was a typical inland breeding ground and breeding behaviour was studied from June 1977 to January 1978. [Extract from Introduction]