2020 Fairy Tern Nesting Season
Consultation has concluded
Fairy Terns are a threatened species protected under the federal government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. They are a delicate, white bird with a black cap on top of their head and orange-yellow bill and legs. Fairy Terns are smaller than most terns at almost half the size of a Silver Gull. Much like humans, Fairy Terns like to migrate to Mandurah from late spring to early summer to fish in the estuary and surrounding coastal areas. Some years, if we are lucky, they also choose to nest and raise chicks in our beautiful City.
Unfortunately, much of the Fairy Tern’s original habitat has been developed and there are now only a few suitable breeding sites remaining. To support this threatened species a nesting sanctuary was established in the Mandurah Ocean Marina in 2017.
The Fairy Tern nesting season runs from September-February, and there are three local sites preferred by the birds: the Mandurah Fairy Tern Sanctuary, Boundary Island, and Nairns. During this time, we ask for your support in helping us create a safe space for this threatened species to nest and raise the next generation of Fairy Terns, which is critical to their overall survival.
How you can help:
The Fairy Tern nesting season runs from September-February, and during this time, you can help us protect this threatened species by logging any Fairy Tern sightings - date, time and number of Fairy Terns, on the map below.
The Mandurah Fairy Tern Sanctuary is a City of Mandurah initiative in partnership with the Conservation Council of WA and Peel Harvey Catchment Council, supported by Birdlife Peel, Cockburn Cement and the WA Water Corporation.
2020 Fairy Tern Sighting Map
The Fairy Tern nesting season runs from September-February, and there are three preferred sites for the birds: Mandurah Fairy Tern Sanctuary, Boundary Island and Nairns. During this time, you can help us protect this threatened species by logging any Fairy Tern sightings on this map.
The preferred sites are highlighted on this map. There are four pins to choose from:
- Red Pin: for birds spotted flying over the site
- Orange Pin: for birds spotted landing at the site
- Green Pin: for birds spotted nesting at the site
- Blue Pin: for any other behaviour
Please remember to keep your distance and stay at least 20 metres away any time you are watching the birds. Any disturbance may cause them to feel too unsafe to nest or, if they are already nesting, may cause the birds to abandon their chicks.
To add your Fairy Tern Sighting to the map
1. Click on the map
2. Move the map to find your sighting location - you can click and drag the map to move it around, or zoom in or out as needed.
3. Click on the Add Pin button on the left-hand side of the screen. You will see a list of pins appear.
4. Drag and drop the relevant pin onto the map. The most popular breeding sites have been highlighted in red to make them easy to find, but you can still log sightings for other areas.
5. Answer the questions to provide details of the approximate time and date of the sighting, how many birds you saw, and any specific behaviours that were noticed. You can also add your own comment if you'd like to provide more information.
6. If you'd like to upload a picture to your sighting report, click Add Image and follow the instructions.
6. Click Submit to lodge your sighting.