Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p105
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 105/152)
Character Range: 329251–332228

Trends
The global population is estimated to number 3,100,000-4,000,000 individuals (Delany and Scott 2006). The overall population trend is stable, although some populations have unknown trends (Delany and Scott 2006). The Australian population estimate and trends are unknown.

   Conservation Concerns and Actions
The main threats to this species are within its European range and have been identified as habitat destruction and water regulation in wetlands. In the west of its European range the reclamation of wetlands is causing declines and in Russia and the Ukraine dry breeding seasons and an increasing number of drainage schemes pose a threat (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). It is also susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006).

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

         Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

         Manage freshwater wetland habitats to support the lifecycle of the species

         Quantify and manage the potential impacts of human disturbance

         Measure contaminant levels in all relevant life stages

142 Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds
Species profiles

 Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

Life History and Distribution
The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a slender medium-sized tern with a very long, slender drooping bill. The species is slightly bigger than Black-naped Tern (S. sumatrana) and smaller, slimmer than Common Tern (S. hirundo) and White-fronted Tern (S. striata). The species has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. In Australia the species can be found in subtropical and tropical waters from south-west WA to south-east Qld. The species nests on sand-dunes, sand-spits, shingle beaches, reefs (Snow and Perrins 1998), saltmarshes and rocky, sandy or coral islands and cays (del Hoyo et al. 1996), showing a preference for densely vegetated sites in temperate regions but sparsely vegetated sites in the tropics (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It also shows a preference for nest sites close to clear, shallow, sandy fishing grounds (Snow and Perrins 1998) in tidal bays and sheltered inshore waters (Snow and Perrins 1998). Throughout the year the species often rests and forages in sheltered estuaries, creeks (Urban et al. 1986), inshore waters and up to several kilometres offshore (del Hoyo et al. 1996), moving to warm tropical coasts after breeding (Snow and Perrins 1998). The species breeds in large, dense single- or mixed-species colonies that may contain several thousands of pairs (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It remains gregarious throughout the year, roosting in large groups (Urban et al. 1986, Snow and Perrins 1998) and feeding singly, in small loose groups (Snow and Perrins 1998) or in flocks of many hundreds of individuals (Urban et al. 1986, Snow and Perrins 1998). It is regularly found in mixed species flocks with Lesser Noddy