Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00677:reg:12:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00677
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 12 (pt 9/33)
Character Range: 27880–30898

(Higgins and Davies 1996). They nest in clear view of the water and on sites where the substrate is either sandy or on shell-grit and the vegetation sparse. In Western Port Ramsar site, Victoria, birds use seagrass covered beaches to nest on Rams Island.

             Incubation duties are shared but females probably spend more time at the nest whilst males actively provision females before and after laying, as is the case with Little Terns (Cramp 1985; Cabot and Nisbet 2013). Incubation lasts for approximately 18–22 days (Lindsey 1986; Higgins and Davies 1996). Chicks may be guarded by one parent for the first day or two. However, it is not unusual for chicks to be left alone whilst the adults undertake foraging bouts (C. N. Greenwell. pers. comm. 2020). Chicks fledge at about 20 days. Nesting birds are sensitive to disturbance and can become extremely agitated when disturbed by humans or other animals. Females often crouch on the ground; however both sexes have been known to attack intruders (Higgins and Davies 1996; Lindsey 1986).

             There is a high natural rate of breeding failure as breeding sites can become inundated during extreme weather events, such as high tides and storm surges or be smothered by wind-blown sand. Colonies tend to occupy areas rather than fixed sites, and nest sites can be abandoned after one or more years, even if they have been successful (Saunders and de Rebeira 1985).

             Interbreeding has been recorded between Fairy Terns and the Little Tern in South Australia (Cox and Close 1977), Victoria (Norman et al. 1996), NSW (Ross et al. 1999) and Tasmania (E.J. Woehler pers. obs).

              Feeding
             Australian Fairy Terns hover and then dive into shallow waters in order to catch small baitfish; however they may scavenge from shoals of feeding predatory fish (Higgins and Davies 1996; Dunlop 2018). Australian Fairy Terns feed almost entirely on fish in near-shore waters adjacent to nesting colonies and around island archipelagos (Higgins and Davis 1996). Fish species consumed include Australian
             Anchovies (Engraulis australis), Pilchards (Sardinops neopilchardus), Striped Trumpeter (Latris lineata) and Blue Sprats (Spratelloides robustus) (Taylor and Roe 2007; E. Stephens pers. comm 2020). Fairy Terns have been observed opportunistically feeding on small squids during twilight hours (C. N. Greenwell pers. obs).

   In south-west Western Australian coastal locations, Australian Fairy Terns have been observed carrying Hardyheads (Pranesus ogilbyi), Whitebait (Hyperlophus vittatus), and Bluesprat up to about 60 mm in length (Dunlop 2018) and Southern Sea Garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir), Two-by-three Garfish (Hemiramphus robustus), Snub-nosed Garfish (Arrhamphus sclerolepis) and flying fish (Exocoetidae spp.) up to
   ~150 mm in length (C. N. Greenwell pers. obs.). At the Abrolhos Islands, Australian Fairy Terns handled during banding operations regurgitated Hardyheads between 20 and
   50 mm