Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p111
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 111/152)
Character Range: 345465–348446

trends are unknown.

 Conservation Concerns and Actions
Arctic Tern breeding colonies are threatened by invasive species, human disturbance and egg collection (Birdlife International 2019). It is possible that, in the future, the effects of climate change could have an adverse impact on food sources and breeding habitat.

 Recommended Management Actions
          Quantify the non-breeding population in Australia

          Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

Species profiles

 Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

Life History and Distribution
The Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) is a large tern very similar in shape and proportions to Crested Tern (T. bergii). Lesser Crested Terns have a diagnostic long bright-orange bill. The species breeds in subtropical coastal parts of the world mainly from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and Australia, with a significant population on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, on two islands off the coast of Libya. Outside the breeding season it ranges on the north African coast (both Mediterranean and Atlantic), on much of the Indian Ocean nearby continents, and in the western Pacific north of Australia up to New Guinea and Vietnam. Details of this species movements are poorly known. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical (del Hoyo et al. 1996) sandy and coral coasts and estuaries (Urban et al. 1986), breeding on low-lying offshore islands, foraging in the surf and over offshore waters (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Thenest is a shallow scrape (del Hoyo et al. 1996) on ridges or bare areas surrounded by vegetation (del Hoyo et al. 1996) on flat sandy beaches (Snow and Perrins 1998), low-lying sandy islands, coral flats, small coral islets and sandbanks (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Its diet consists predominantly of small pelagic fish (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996) and shrimps (del Hoyo et al. 1996).

Population Estimates and Trends
The global population estimate is estimated to number 225,000 pairs, more than half occur in Australia (BirdLife International 2019). An estimated 10,000 pairs occur in the South Pacific and 8,000 in Indonesia. The overall population trend is stable, although some populations have unknown trends (Delany and Scott 2006).

Conservation Concerns and Actions
Globally, the species does not seem to be facing any significant threats, however, some colonies are vulnerable to invasive species and human disturbance. At present there are no factors thought to pose a genuine threat to this species. It is possible that, in the future, the effects of climate change could have an adverse impact on food sources and breeding habitat.

Recommended Management Actions
        Quantify the breeding population in Australia

        Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

        Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

        Control, or eradicate invasive