Churchill Island is crucial in survival of endangered fairy tern population. Photos: Phillip Island Nature Parks By Lisa Gilbert
THREE summers ago, 31 fairy tern pairs fledged 49 chicks at Observation Point on Churchill Island. Since 2019-20, as far as researchers know, not a single fairy term chick has fledged in the Western Port and Port Phillip Bay region.
The fairy tern is critically endangered in Victoria and its population has drastically declined in recent decades. Now Phillip Island Nature Parks will embark on a $200,000 conservation project to support the recovery of the population around Phillip Island.
Nature Parks staff and volunteers will partner with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to improve and expand suitable breeding habitats for fairy terns, and install cameras to monitor the species and to better respond to feral cats and other threats such as storm surges.
THREE summers ago, 31 fairy tern pairs fledged 49 chicks at Observation Point on Churchill Island. Since 2019-20, as far as researchers know, not a single fairy term chick has fledged in the Western Port and Port Phillip Bay region.
The fairy tern is critically endangered in Victoria and its population has drastically declined in recent decades. Now Phillip Island Nature Parks will embark on a $200,000 conservation project to support the recovery of the population around Phillip Island.
Nature Parks staff and volunteers will partner with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to improve and expand suitable breeding habitats for fairy terns, and install cameras to monitor the species and to better respond to feral cats and other threats such as storm surges.
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The project has received funding from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Nature Fund, with co-investment from Phillip Island Nature Parks, the Penguin Foundation and Melbourne Water.
Nature Parks environment ranger Brandan Zerafa said the work would centre on the
fairy tern’s last known successful breeding site in Western Port and Port Phillip and will aim to secure a safe breeding site at Observation Point.
“The movement and breeding site selection of the fairy tern population is highly variable, and most breeding attempts fail,” Mr Zerafa said.
“Since 2016, the only successful breeding in the Western Port and Port Phillip was at our Observation Point on Phillip Island in 2019/20 when 31 Fairy Tern pairs fledged 49 chicks. Since then, there has been no successful breeding of Fairy Terns due to a number of factors including pest animals, weed infestation and human disturbance.
“We hope this project will ensure the long-term breeding success of this critically endangered species.”
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation will work with Nature Parks and BirdLife Australia to undertake weed removal, revegetation and participate in fairy tern monitoring on Country.
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation Land and Environment Manager, Shani Blyth said the environment team was looking forward to partnering on the project to help secure Observation Point as a safe haven for the fairy terns.
Nature Parks environment ranger Brandan Zerafa said the work would centre on the
fairy tern’s last known successful breeding site in Western Port and Port Phillip and will aim to secure a safe breeding site at Observation Point.
“The movement and breeding site selection of the fairy tern population is highly variable, and most breeding attempts fail,” Mr Zerafa said.
“Since 2016, the only successful breeding in the Western Port and Port Phillip was at our Observation Point on Phillip Island in 2019/20 when 31 Fairy Tern pairs fledged 49 chicks. Since then, there has been no successful breeding of Fairy Terns due to a number of factors including pest animals, weed infestation and human disturbance.
“We hope this project will ensure the long-term breeding success of this critically endangered species.”
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation will work with Nature Parks and BirdLife Australia to undertake weed removal, revegetation and participate in fairy tern monitoring on Country.
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation Land and Environment Manager, Shani Blyth said the environment team was looking forward to partnering on the project to help secure Observation Point as a safe haven for the fairy terns.