LOST: 50 BREEDING PAIRS OF LITTLE TERNS
Over the past decade or so, extensive management by the NSW NPWS and local
ornithologist Keith Egan have rescued the Botany Bay colony of Little Terns
from the brink of extinction. Once down to a few breeding pair, the
population has for several years exceeded 50 breeding pair. Laying,
hatching and fledging rates have all been high. Excess young produced at
the Botany Bay colony have established a new colony at Lake Woolumbolla,
near Nowra. Management techniques developed at Botany Bay are now being
used to protect and conserve other colonies along the east coast.
Alas, this year all is not well. It appears that the breeding site in
Botany Bay has been abandoned, at least for the time being. Whereas at this
time last year we had 42 nests containing eggs, today we have none.
We are desperate to know where these birds have gone, and whether they have
set up a new breeding colony elsewhere along the east coast.. If we can
locate these birds we can then ensure they are adequately protected from
predators (particularly foxes and silver gulls) and from disturbance by
people. All the breeding birds are marked. Each bird carries a metal band
and three colour flags. If you see any of these birds, or locate a nesting
colony, could you please forward details (location, flag combinations,
breeding or non-breeding plumage, etc) to me at the address below.
Many thanks
David Priddel
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Dr David Priddel
Senior Research Scientist
Biodiversity Survey and Research Division
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
PO Box 1967
Hurstville, NSW 2220
Australia
Phone: 02 9585 6504
Fax: 02 9585 6606
E-mail:
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