The colony was one of 12 successful colonies during the summer of 2000-01 located along the NSW coast — about 370 chicks were fledged which is the highest number fledged for 20-30 years. Our colony at The Entrance contained about 12% of the NSW breeding population and contributed about 8% of the young that fledged.

The success was due in part to the co-operation between Wyong Council who fenced off the nesting site from fishermen and day trippers, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) rangers who regularly patrolled the site, and the 18 members of the CC group who undertook morning and afternoon shifts to monitor the nests and report any vandalism or inappropriate behaviour by members of the public, to the NPWS.

You may well ask "Is all this effort necessary to protect these birds?" The answer must be "yes" because the Little Tern is scheduled as Endangered under the provisions of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. The national population is considered to only be 3000 birds of which less that 20% breed in NSW each summer.

The birds are under considerable threats basically because they breed on sandy and shingle patches of ocean beaches in the summer months when natural conditions and human interference are at their highest. Summer storms often wash away the eggs, as the birds build no nests and often have their nests in the sand dunes and shingle just above high tide.

The birds are also at the mercy of other predatory birds like Australian Ravens, Torresian Crows, Silver Gulls, Whimbrels, Gull-billed Terns and Beach Stone-Curlews which steal the eggs. Ghost Crabs, Australian Kestrels and Foxes often predate the young: while domestic dogs and unthinking humans walk on, drive over and otherwise disturb the nesting sites.

It has been argued that the species should be listed as "Conservation Dependent" because without conservation management the population will continue to decline. The resources of the NSW NPWS are not sufficient to protect the colonies alone, and in summers of high bushfire activity, the staff resources are often not available to provide any protection to the sites at all.

This last summer breeding season illustrates the need for a continued commitment by NPWS for some funds and community involvement to manage the breeding colonies. At Towra Point Nature Reserve, Botany Bay where up to 30-40 pairs breed successfully each year, the nesting colony this season failed. Initially Australian Ravens may have taken the first eggs, but it was understood that no funds were provided for boat hire for wardens to check the colony regularly, rangers were unavailable to patrol the site or carry our fox or bird control, and eventually the birds went elsewhere. Meanwhile at Karagi Point,The Entrance, about 35 pairs returned to breed. Many were colour-banded and a check of the register has showed that many of them were banded previously at Towra Point.

The CC volunteers liaised with council workers about the state of the fence, spoke to errant beach users who walked through the fenced colony, discussed issues with the ranger, and recorded the data on the nests like clutch size and the date the eggs hatched. Possibly this year the Karagi Point colony contributed about 15% of the chicks that fledged in NSW.

Elsewhere, the two large colonies at Manning Point (Harrington) and Farquar Inlet (Old Bar) are both managed jointly by community groups and the NPWS — successfully fledging 106 chicks.

The South Coast colonies are managed more formally through NPWS by two Shorebird Recovery Officers who are employed for the season to manage both the Little Tern colonies and other Threatened Species such as Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers and Hooded Plovers that nest in that region.

The combined efforts of local government, volunteers and NPWS staff and funds have combined again in 2001/2002 to make this season’s Little Tern breeding period a success. However, it would be better for the Little Terns if the level of commitment to conserve breeding shorebirds that occurs on the South Coast was implemented along the whole coast.

Marsh Meanders Marsh Meandering tours are taking bird enthusiasts through internationally-recognised Wetlands, the Macquarie Marshes in the Dubbo district. Depending on water availability, during scenic kayak tours, you may see nesting Ibis, Egrets, Royal and Yellow Spoonbills, pied and Black Cormorants first-hand while enjoying the peaceful tranquillity of a yet untouched wetland area. In 2000, the area was accepted as a RAMSAR site.   Carollyn Fisher and Narelle Sinclair have been conducting the tours for over three years now.  If you'd like to know more, please contact Carollyn on 6824 2072, or Narelle on 6824 2070