Endangered little terns record highly successful NSW breeding season

Australia Broadcast Center

06-05-2025

The endangered little tern has experienced one of its best recorded breeding seasons across New South Wales, sparking hope among conservationists.
Each spring, the small seabirds migrate thousands of kilometres across the ocean from East and South-east Asia to nest on Australian shores.
They lay eggs directly on the sand where they are so well camouflaged they become almost invisible, making them vulnerable to beach visitors and cars.
They are also at risk from predators, flooding and, adverse weather conditions.
For the past 25 years, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has been involved in trying to conserve and monitor the species.
The NPWS said since 2019 the breeding population had more than doubled.
NPWS North Coast Branch threatened species project officer Kaitlyn York said in the most recent breeding season, more than 900 nests were recorded across the state, which was the second-highest number recorded in the past 24 years of monitoring.
Little tern chicks can be easily missed on the sand, leaving them vulnerable.
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Supplied: Andrew Wilkinson
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"It was an incredible year for the birds. We also counted at least 485 breeding pairs,"
she said.
"That's a jump from last year's 430 breeding pairs, which was an increase on the previous year."
The high number of breeding pairs resulted in an estimated 510 fledglings, the highest count of fledglings recorded and a jump from last year's figure of around 370.
"This is a really positive result, that we will keep checking on every year," Ms York said.
"There's a lot of effort going into the monitoring of these birds, and then, of course, the threat management."
Stand-out breeding sites
Nests were spotted at 24 sites along the NSW coast, ranging from Wilsons Head in Yuraygir National Park in the Grafton area on the North Coast to Merimbula on the far South Coast.
"The birds are very particular in where they choose to nest, there can be stretches of coast where there are no nesting birds," Ms York said.
A Conjola little tern nest.
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Supplied: Anne Mueller
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Ms York said Karagi Point on the Central Coast was a stand-out breeding site, where almost 45 per cent of the state's little tern fledglings were hatched in the last season.
The NPWS said the Central Coast Council's "exemplary management" of the site was key to the breeding success.
Sites at Lake Conjola and Lake Wollumboola on the South Coast also experienced positive results, as did sites on the Mid North Coast.
"Red Rock had a really good year, just north of Coffs Harbour, and one fledgling came out of a site called Station Creek at Yuraygir National Park north of Coffs Harbour," she said.
"
We've not recorded a successful fledgling there [possibly] ever, and definitely not in the last few years, so that's a great result.
"
A little tern on a nest on the NSW Central Coast.
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Supplied: Andrew Robinson
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Species remains 'on edge'
Ms York said going forward, it was important people did not become complacent.
The conservation of migratory birds is complex because birds can face a range of threats at different stages — at nesting sites, during migration and at "wintering" sites, where birds congregate during the colder months.
"They [little terns] are hopefully on the up, but we can't be sure [numbers] are increasing a lot, as these results could also be due to survey efforts and other factors, so they aren't out of the woods yet," Ms York said.
Ms York said threat management remained a strong focus.
"These birds face multiple threats. A big thing we push is making sure beachgoers pay attention to signage and fencing … and keeping dogs on a lead and not disturbing these birds," she said.
A little tern in flight.
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Supplied: Andrew Robinson, Central Coast Council
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"Bad weather and big tides is another big one, which can unfortunately inundate their nests.
"
Given the number of obstacles they face to get their eggs through each season, to see these breeding numbers is incredible.
"
The acting deputy secretary of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Trish Harrup, said protecting little terns was a combined effort and there had been a "groundswell" of community support.
A sign on a Mid North Coast beach warning people about a little tern nesting area.
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ABC Mid North Coast: Gabrielle Lyons
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"[It included] volunteers, NPWS staff, local councils, land managers, contractors and stakeholders who conducted over 5,000 observations at nest sites this season," she said.
"Despite these promising numbers, these birds remain on the edge, and continued efforts are vital to protect them."