Little Terns return to the trees of First Avenue, Sawtell Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 4, 2021 A ‘Little Tern’ finding its way into a tree in First Ave, Sawtell SPRING is baby animal and bird time, and migration time. It’s also the time when ‘Little Terns’ appear mysteriously in the First Avenue trees in Sawtell, placed by anonymous helpers to remind locals and visitors that our feathered friends have arrived after a long journey and that these beautiful and special little birds flourish when we are mindful of them. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Little Terns spend Australia’s winter in eastern Asia then fly six thousand kilometres back to Australia’s coast line to breed. Most locals and visitors are aware that the Sawtell breeding site is one of the most important and successful in NSW, not only because of National Park rangers who monitor the birds each summer but largely because of the care and support of the local community. The National Park staff also help protect the Terns with fences and poison baits to remove foxes and feral dogs. The Little Terns are only just beginning to arrive now and five to seven pairs are beginning to ‘court’. Pied and Sooty Oystercatcher nests were already on the Bonville Spit and survived the recent storms, as did a few hatched chicks, because the heart of the hail storm passed well north of the Park. Little Terns are only slightly bigger than a budgerigar and lay their well-camouflaged eggs in a small scrape in the sand. The Terns’ eggs are vulnerable to the elements, unsuspecting beachgoers and predators. The newly-hatched chicks initially shelter in the dunes amongst driftwood and beach grass, then move to the water’s edge as they grow ready for their first flight. Last season, somewhere between 30-40 Little Tern chicks fledged on the site. By early February all of the Little Terns, adult and young, have left Sawtell to make their way back to the northern hemisphere. Locals are hoping that this will be another successful breeding season, facilitated by everyone taking care and keeping their distance. By Andrew VIVIAN
