Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00677:reg:12:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00677
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 12 (pt 12/33)
Character Range: 36141–39168

TSSC 2011; Greenwell et al. 2019). Proximity to roads is also another threat for chicks that are fledging or practising flights. The species is also adversely impacted by extreme weather events such as heavy rainstorms and storm surges that reduce breeding success. It is the species' nesting habitat preferences that make the Australian Fairy Tern so susceptible to disturbance, predation and extreme weather events.

   Any threats in or around the breeding sites can be detrimental to the colony. Threats include overgrown vegetation, weed encroachment, land development, extreme weather events, extreme salinities, unsuitable sand management and water management in waters surrounding breeding sites (Higgins and Davies 1996; TSSC 2011; E. Stephens pers comm. 2020).

   Furthermore, increased salinity in waters adjacent to breeding colonies (the Coorong, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland Ramsar site, South Australia) can cause changes to local populations of prey fish abundance and distribution. Nest flooding or an increased exposure to predators can occur due to a rise or decrease in water levels, respectively (TSSC 2011).

             In the event of an oil spill or ship-related oil spills, the Australian Fairy Tern could be potentially threatened due to the proximity of the species' coastal breeding and inshore feeding habitats to known and potential offshore oil facilities, shipping facilities and sea routes (TSSC 2011).

2.2.1     Habitat degradation and loss of breeding habitat
             Australian Fairy Terns do not necessarily retain the same nest site from one breeding attempt to the next (Dunlop 2018). However, colonies may establish in the same general locations in consecutive years or re-use certain places intermittently (Dunlop 2018).
             Shoreline sites may be subject to rapid change due to sand erosion or accretion, tidal cycles and sea-levels, beach-wrack movement and deliberate modification. Locations that have been used in the past may be lost, become less attractive to the terns or become subject to increased disturbance or predation (Dunlop 2018). The shifting of nesting sites may be a strategy to reduce predation risks (J.N. Dunlop pers. comm. 2020).

             Colony sites that are attractive to breeding pairs may develop naturally or result from coastal development activity including the clearing or loss of dune vegetation, the dumping of dredge spoil or beach-engineering (Dunlop 2018). Clearing of near
             coastal areas for development (industrial or residential) can render the area attractive to breeding terns, leading to their rapid colonisation of the site earmarked for development/works. This can lead to conflict between the primary intended use of the land and its occupation by a threatened species. In Western Australia for example, this occurred on a reclaimed seabed area of the Fremantle Harbour, leading to the creation of the Rous Head Fairy Tern Sanctuary by Fremantle Ports and this is now one of the most successful