It’s been a successful summer for the breeding of endangered Little Terns with at least 96 fully fledged from Karagi Point at The Entrance North.
The result breaks last season’s record of 53 successfully fledged Little Terns and forms part of the ongoing ‘Saving our Species’ program delivered by Council via the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Biodiversity Conservation Division.
Among the conservation efforts were: an enhancement of the habitat, such as sand-building to elevate the nesting areas; installing fencing to prevent people and dogs disturbing the nesting areas; controlling foxes; weekly monitoring; daily removal of rubbish in and around the nesting site; and community engagement.
Council’s Acting Section Manager Environmental Infrastructure Matthew Barnett said that the environmental management team had been hard at work since October.
“A lot of work goes into preparing and monitoring the nesting site and we’re so glad to see that our hard work has paid off to help Little Terns breed and protect their young.
“Little Terns are here to stay if the conditions are suitable,” Barnett said.
The Little Tern is listed as an endangered species in NSW.
Its population is estimated to be declining by approximately five per cent annually.
NPWS Threatened Species Officer Katherine Howard said NPWS was delighted to support Council in successfully managing The Entrance North nesting site.
“Our thanks also to the local residents and beach visitors for respecting the fenced area and ‘sharing the shore’ so successfully with Little Terns,” Ms Howard said.
This season’s record-breaking result is particularly important as several historically important Little Tern nesting sites elsewhere in NSW have had limited success.
This has placed extra emphasis on Karagi Point as a significant nesting site of state-wide importance.
Most of the birds have now moved on to quieter, more remote areas of Tuggerah Lakes and rock platforms further north where they will forage to gain weight and strength before migrating north in April.
Nicola Riches