Fairy Tern - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Sternula nereis nereis

Conservation status in NSW: Not listed

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 13 Oct 2021

Description

A small piscivorous (fish-eating) bird, the Fairy Tern is approximately 22–27 cm in length, 70 g in weight and has a wingspan of 44–53 cm (Higgins & Davies 1996). The Fairy Tern is bulky and round bodied (Simpson & Day 2004).

The breeding plumage of both sexes is pale grey-white, with a black crown, nape, ear coverts and patch in front of the eyes (square to round in shape). The forehead is white and the bill is orange-yellow (Higgins & Davies 1996). Legs are dull yellow and the iris is dark brown (Lindsey 1986a).

There is also little sexual dimorphism in non-breeding plumage, with a black bill and a more mottled appearance to the crown (Marchant & Higgins 1990). Outer primary feathers are also less contrasting with no dark shoulder bar (Simpson & Day 2004).

Immature birds have blackish legs and bills (Lindsey 1986a). The crown is streaked dusky and buff with a dark ear patch. The outer wing is dark greyish and the inner wing is pale grey and white (Simpson & Day 2004).

The species is gregarious and often found in flocks of 50–150 birds. However the bird is also seen singularly or in pairs (Higgins & Davies 1996).

Distribution

Within Australia, the Fairy Tern occurs along the coasts of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia; occurring as far north as the Dampier Archipelago near Karratha. The subspecies has been known from New South Wales (NSW) in the past, but it is unknown if it persists there (Birdlife International 2010; Garnett & Crowley 2000).

Habitat and ecology

The Fairy Tern (Australian) nests on sheltered sandy beaches, spits and banks above the high tide line and below vegetation. The subspecies has been found in embayments of a variety of habitats including offshore, estuarine or lacustrine (lake) islands, wetlands and mainland coastline (Higgins & Davies 1996; Lindsey 1986a). The bird roosts on beaches at night (Higgins & Davies 1996).

Threats

The main threat to the subspecies is the disturbance of breeding sites by human activities (including bikes, horses and vehicles) and predation by introduced species and birds. It is the species’ nesting behaviours that make the Fairy Tern so susceptible to disturbance and predation.
Disturbance may cause direct destruction of eggs or the abandonment of nesting sites by the birds resulting in egg predation or chilling or overheating of eggs (Higgins & Davies 1996). Predators of the Fairy Tern include Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Dogs (Canis familiaris), Cats (Felis catus), Black Rats (Rattus rattus), Silver Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae), Pacific Gulls (L. pacificus), Harriers (Circus spp.) and Ravens (Corvus spp.) (Saunders and de Rebeira, 1985; Hill et al. 1988 In TSSC 2011t).
Fairy Tern nests are a simple scrape in the sand and thus any counterproductive activities in or around the breeding sites are a threat. This includes overgrown vegetation, weed encroachment, housing development, extreme weather events, increased salinity and incorrect water management in waters surrounding breeding sites (Higgins & Davies 1996; IUCN 2010; TSSC 2011t).
Furthermore, increased salinity in waters adjacent to breeding colonies (particularly in the Coorong South Australia) causes local population crashes in the numbers of prey fish. Nest flooding or exposure to predators can occur due to a respective rise or decline in water levels (TSSC 2011t).
In the event of an oil spill, the Fairy Tern may be impacted?

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 0 priority actions to help recover the Fairy Tern in New South Wales.