The Little Terns arrive at Karagi Point, The Entrance North in October each year to begin nesting and we want to remind everyone on how they can help protect the endangered species during this critical time.

The Little Terns migrate from east and south-east Asia to Australia every Summer and are protected under both State and Federal threatened species legislation.  

In recent years, Council has carried out best practice management at Karagi Point, supported by the community, which has resulted in record-breaking breeding success and is significantly contributing to the long-term survival of the species. 

Of note, the Karagi Point breeding colony accounted for nearly one third of the state’s estimated breeding years and over one third of the state’s fledglings last breeding season - with at least 134 being confirmed. Having seen a 7-fold increase in fledgling success over the last 4 years, Karagi Point is now considered one of the most important breeding colonies in NSW. 

We hope the community will continue to work with us to keep the Little Terns safe and ensure breeding success during this important time.

Summer mitigation

During summer, visitation to The Entrance region significantly increases due to the school holidays, holidaymakers, events and recreational activities, placing added pressures on the already nesting Little Terns.

To mitigate these threats, we carry out a range of management actions, such as: 

• fencing installation to exclude people and dogs from the nesting site
• habitat enhancement works and sand levee construction to reduce the likelihood of inundation on nests
• the installation of interpretive and regulatory signage
• rubbish collection to discourage predators from visiting the site
• fox control
• weekly nest monitoring 
• community education to raise awareness. 

Working together

In consultation with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Biodiversity and Conservation Division, we have installed robust temporary fencing and signage around the breeding area to protect the eggs and chicks.

But there’s more that can be done, and we need your help to:

• Keep well back from the fenced area - while it’s exciting to see these rare birds nesting, visitors to the area are asked to keep back from the fenced area as the Little Terns are highly sensitive to disturbance and can abandon their nest site if they feel unsafe.
• Obey all site signage and directions from security personnel and Council staff
• Take your litter with you when leaving the beach - especially all food waste, fishing tackle and bait, as this can attract predators or lead to entanglement (bins are located in the car park)
• Keep off sand levees and embankments (not a vantage point or for kids to play on)
• Avoid being unnecessarily noisy (loud music, boat and jet ski motors, fireworks etc.)
• Avoid flying kites and drones near the fenced area (this can lead to colony abandonment)
• Report fox sightings in the area
• Keep your cats indoors at night and dogs away from the reserve. Dogs (including dogs on leads) are prohibited from Karagi Point at any time.
• Please do not feed Sea (Silver) Gulls and other birds as this may lead them to predate on Little Tern eggs and chicks.

Disturbance to endangered species or their nests can result in a fine of $330,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016; staff and rangers are regularly patrolling the area.  

To assist in the conservation program, the community are asked to be watchful for eggs or chicks that may appear outside the fenced area, and to report the sightings if seen, as well as report any unauthorised activities or other issues to Council on 02 4306 7900.

Events at The Entrance and the Little Terns

The Little Terns will be nesting during several events planned at The Entrance town centre over the summer period.

If you, along with your family and friends, plan on attending any of the events, we would like to remind everyone to avoid sitting near the nesting area, obey all signage and watch out for any chicks or nests outside the fenced area. These small steps will us help protect the endangered species during this critical time.

Extra precautions during events

We will also be carrying out extra safety measures to help protect the nesting site during several major events being held at The Entrance.
The largest of these will be carried out during the Rolling Sets Festival.

These extra measures include:

• Closing Karagi Point, including foreshore areas around the nest site, from 9am-11pm Saturday 7 December. Closures extend to people arriving to Karagi Point by watercraft. The nearby carpark (end of Hutton Road), park, playground, and immediate foreshore will remain open. 
• Two National Parks Discovery Rangers will be on site (Hutton Rd carpark) to educate the community about Little Terns from 12-6pm. 
• Security guards will be stationed on Karagi Point (in proximity to the nesting/fenced area) to ensure the site is not subject to undue disturbance. We urge the community to obey signage and directions from security personnel. 
• Extra signage and barrier fencing will be installed to ensure restricted areas are well-defined. 
• Spectators are urged to use vantage points other than the northern side of The Entrance Channel to enjoy the festival.
• Council is urging the community to respect the Little Tern nesting area by staying away during site closures, and to remain behind well back from fence/exclusion zones and obey all signage. 
• Council staff, including Rangers, will be regularly patrolling the area during these events and other busy periods, with rubbish collection and monitoring efforts to increase.
• Additional short-term closures at Karagi Point are planned for Light Up The Lake (Saturday 9 November), Christmas Eve (Tuesday 24 December), New Years Eve (Tuesday 31 December) and Australia Day (Sunday 26 January). Further details to be provided.  

Learn more

You can learn more about our annual visitors through a number of educational talks and a display at the Central Coast Visitor Centre, The Entrance.

On display

Visitors to the revamped information centre in the heart of The Entrance will now be able to get more of an insight into the Little Tern, thanks to an educational display.

The display consists of two breeding adults and three chicks (at various developmental stages) that have been taxidermied, along with several unviable eggs, and positioned over a sandy substrate to replicate beach nesting.

All specimens were found deceased while carrying out nest monitoring during recent breeding seasons and collected under license. The adults cause of death is unknown, while the chicks were killed by predatory Sea (Silver) Gulls during peak nesting. While not a pleasant scenario, it is of some consolation the collected specimens have contributed to conservation science having undergone genetic testing at The Australian Museum.
We’re hoping this display will help engage and educate the community about these special little birds and the significant plight they face. 

In person

Our staff will be joining the National Parks Discovery Rangers for a number of educational talks over the summer nesting period.

You can find out more in person by visiting the team:

• During upcoming events at The Entrance, the Rangers will be on site at Karagi Point or at nearby locations such as Memorial Park with an education stall - dates to be confirmed
• Discovery Rangers will be roaming Karagi Point during peak holiday periods coinciding with the Little Tern breeding season
• Shorebird education workshops will be held for children in local caravan parks during January
• Attending a Council Environmental Education kayak tour at The Entrance on Saturday 9 November. For more information check out Council’s What’s On page 
• Visiting the Central Coast Visitor Centre at The Entrance to pick up an educational brochure, chat to staff and see the Little Terns display.
  Watch this space for further details or contact enviroed@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au  

Thank you

We want to thank the community for being respectful of the nesting sites and urge you to continue to take care and obey the temporary fencing and signage, so we may get to enjoy these special visitors and their growing families each year.

Remember, to please report any sightings of the birds nesting outside the fenced area, as well as report any unauthorised activities or other concerns to Council on 02 4306 7900.

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

Photo credit: Andrew Robinson .