Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775:reg:18:p103
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00775
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 18 (pt 103/152)
Character Range: 323749–326712

seconds of panic flight in which the eggs and chicks of a nest are left exposed (Shuford and Craig 2002). Historically, exploitation has resulted in large population decreases through the collection of eggs and adults for food and feathers (Shuford and Craig 2002).

 Recommended Management Actions
         Quantify the breeding population in Australia

         Regularly monitor breeding populations at index locations

         Determine non-breeding areas and migration routes

         Quantify and manage the potential impacts of human disturbance

      Monitor and manage, if required, the impact of Silver Gulls and other species on breeding colonies

         Trail artificial nesting sites and social attraction techniques to establish new colonies

Wildlife Conservation Plan for Seabirds 139
 Species profiles

 Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

 Life History and Distribution
The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a large marsh tern with a more dagger-shaped bill than congeners. This species is slightly bigger and bulkier than the White-winged Tern (C. leucopterus), with slightly longer and more uniformed broad wings and a slightly deeper fork-tail. The species utilises a variety of wetland habitats but shows a preference for freshwater marshlands with scattered pools, particularly where the surrounding vegetation is grazed by cattle or horses (Richards 1990). It frequents inland lakes, rivers, marshes, artificial fish-ponds and drainage-ponds (del Hoyo et al. 1996), swamps, river pools, reservoirs, large dams, sewage-ponds, flooded saltmarshes (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) and rice-fields (del Hoyo et al. 1996). In Australia the species also occurs along the coast on estuaries, coastal lagoons, creeks in mangrove swamps (Snow and Perrins 1998) and tidal mudflats (del Hoyo et al. 1996). When breeding the nest is a heap of aquatic vegetation (Richards 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996) or dry grass (del Hoyo et al. 1996), placed either on floating and emergent vegetation over water 60-80 cm deep or resting on the bottom of very shallow water (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species nests in colonies, neighbouring pairs spaced between 1 and 5 m apart (del Hoyo et al. 1996), and may forage up to 9 km away from breeding sites (more usually within 1 km) (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Its diet consists of terrestrial and aquatic insects (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. Dytiscidae, adult and larval Odonata, Orthoptera, flying ants (del Hoyo et al. 1996) and mosquitoes (Richards 1990)), spiders, frogs, tadpoles, small crabs (del Hoyo et al. 1996), shrimps (Richards 1990) and small fish (del Hoyo et al. 1996).

 Population Estimates and Trends
The global population is estimated to number 300,000-1,500,000 individuals (Delany and Scott 2006). The overall population trend is fluctuating, although some populations are stable and others have unknown trends (Delany and Scott 2006). The Australian population