With the arrival of the Little Terns expected to begin mid-October at Karagi Point, The Entrance North, Central Coast Council is once again undertaking works to help protect the nesting area.

Little Terns migrate from South-east Asia to Australia each year and are protected under both State and Federal threatened species legislation, and Karagi Point is where the colony has historically chosen to nest.

Council’s annual management works, including temporary fencing at the nesting area are designed to help protect the nesting birds.  In recent years these actions have resulted in record-breaking breeding success and significantly contributed to the long-term survival of the species.

Around 36 percent of all Little Tern fledglings hatched in NSW last season have come from the nesting colony in Karagi Point at The Entrance North, making it the most successful Little Tern breeding colony in the state in recent years.

Last season, at least 134 chicks were confirmed as having fledged, which is an exceptional conservation outcome and the most successful Little Tern breeding season on record at Karagi Point - the previous best being 96 fledglings in 2021-2022.

Council appreciates how exciting it is to see these rare birds nesting, but asks visitors to the beach to keep well back from the fenced area as the Little Terns are highly sensitive to disturbance and can abandon their nest site if they feel unsafe.

The best way to get a close look at the Little Terns is by visiting the Central Coast Visitors Centre at The Entrance and checking out the nesting display.

The community are asked to help keep the area litter free, not feeding Sea Gulls and other birds, avoiding unnecessary noise such as unauthorised fireworks, not flying kites or drones over the area and reporting fox sightings to Council.

Please also keep cats in at night and dogs away from Karagi Point.

It is very special to have this endangered species arrive at The Entrance to begin nesting every summer, which is also a reflection of Council’s management efforts over the last few years to help protect the birds during the nesting and breeding season.  

This project is also supported in part by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program.