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Hi Birders,
Recently Terrill Nordstrom mentioned that he had
found two nests of Little Terns at Penrjyn Rd Botany Bay, a site not usually
used by nesting Little Terns as the main colony is located on Towra Point in
Botany Bay.
I have subsequently heard that a single fox
predation one morning in the Towra Point coloony removed almost the entrire
colony from the island, 23 nests with 47 eggs, followed the following morning by
either another fox or ravens (not determinable due to heavy rain washing away
the tracks) so in total 37 nests with 62 eggs all disappeared, and the terns
moved elsewhere, presumably to and including Penryhn Rd Botany Bay. The wardens
for the Towra Point colony have been busy on some more fox control strategies
and hope that the birds will return and re-nest. Last season the Towra Point
colony was one of the most successful colonies with over a 100 chicks
fledging!
Elsewhere in NSW the 25 pairs at the Belongil Beach
(Coffs Harbour) colony are going OK, as are the Wallaga Lake (80 prs), Brou Lake
(22 prs), Lake Conjola (15 prs) & Mogareka Inlet (23 prs) colonies on the
South Coast, but the colonies at Lake Wollumboola and Wallaga Lake are
struggling against varius forms of predation. Here at The Entrance the 26 pairs
are progressing well, the first lot of chicks have hatched, but up to 10 nests
were washed away by high tides in mid November although the birds have already
re-nested. I have not heard anything about the Station Creek (near Red Rock)
colony or the Harrington colony. So, so far more good news than bad news! Good
luck to the volunteers and employed wardens and rangers who are caring for these
birds, lets hope we improve on last seasons best breeding year for many years in
NSW
Alan Morris
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