Omaha Spit, about 60 kilometres north of Auckland on the east coast, separates the open sea from Whangateau Harbour, a relatively unspoilt tidal estuary. The tip of the spit is North Omaha Reserve, and it is home to shorebirds, including the threatened New Zealand dotterel and the variable oystercatcher, which nest there in significant numbers. The shorebirds feed on the harbour at low tide.
Protection of the birds began in the late 1980s, with signage and fencing around the breeding area at the tip of the spit. Since 2009 the Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust, a charitable trust, has led the work. It carries out predator control, monitors breeding success, and raises funds. The trust is always looking for volunteers.