Central Coast Council’s work to protect the Little Tern has seen record numbers of the endangered coastal bird at Karagi Point North Entrance, officially marking the site as crucial for the species’ ongoing conservation.

Council Environmental Education Officer, Nick Carson said the Karagi Point breeding colony was considered the most important nesting site in NSW for the 2020/21 breeding season.

“In December last year we knew we were on track for a record baby boom of the feathered kind, but even then our estimated numbers were still shy of the final results,” Mr Carson said.

“With an estimated 72 breeding pairs, 97 nests, 236 eggs (approximately 2.4 eggs per nest) and 152 chicks being observed, these figures were greater than what was observed at any other site in NSW for the 2020-21 breeding season.

“An average of 0.71 chicks successfully fledged per breeding pair, and with only 350 chicks believed to have successfully fledged throughout the same period in NSW, this means that one seventh of the population can be attributed to Karagi Point alone.

“This was clearly the most successful breeding season seen at Karagi Point in over 20 years of monitoring. We’re very lucky to have Little Terns visit us from as far away as Indonesia and South-east Asia every summer and it is exciting to be part of something so special as ensuring the survival of a species into the future.

“This incredibly successful (and encouraging) breeding season can be accredited to best practice management and monitoring by Council, abundant food sources and a healthy adjacent lake system.”

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council has a number of successful conservation, education and monitoring programs that support threatened species including the Little Tern, Eastern Osprey, Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater.

“The values of the Central Coast community are strongly tied to our local natural environment, which contributes to the lifestyle, culture and beauty of the region. We are committed to leaving a positive legacy for future generations and with each successful program we get another step closer to achieving this,” Mr Hart said.

Council conducted Little Tern community education events with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage over the season and was pleased with the interest of locals and visitors.

Council will continue to work with local environmental groups, National Parks and Wildlife, and the Office of Environment and Heritage to ensure the success of its endangered species programs.