SA Fairy Tern death ‘predicted and preventable’

Death of Endangered Fairy Tern Run Over on SA Beach was ‘Predicted and Preventable’

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: BirdLife Australia has received confirmation that the tragic death of an endangered juvenile Fairy Tern was the result of being run over by a vehicle on a South Australian beach. The cause was confirmed by a necropsy carried out by veterinary staff at Zoos SA. The South Australian Government was warned by BirdLife Australia that such losses would be likely to occur without seasonal closures to vehicles at the important breeding site.

The incident occurred at the Murray Mouth, one of South Australia’s most important breeding sites for the Fairy Tern, an Endangered species in the state and nationally listed as Threatened. BirdLife Australia had called for a temporary seasonal closure of the site to vehicles during the breeding season to prevent exactly this type of tragedy. The government installed rope fencing and signage around the nesting area, which protects breeding adults and their eggs, but fails to protect chicks and newly fledged birds moving beyond the nests. Vehicle strikes on beach-nesting birds and their nests have been a significant factor in the long-term decline of many populations.

BirdLife Australia CEO, Kate Millar, said the tragedy was both predicted and preventable. “It’s clear that vehicles on beaches pose a major threat to beach-nesting birds. Our scientists and the communities who are monitoring these birds know where they nest, and we know when they’re vulnerable. Seasonal closures at targeted locations, like we called for, are an obvious solution but unfortunately, these steps weren’t taken.”

Dr Grainne Maguire, Director Coastal and Wetland Birds at BirdLife, said the loss was a blow to conservationists and volunteers. “When it comes to endangered species like these Fairy Terns, every bird born is significant. This is their habitat, so we need to share our beaches safely if they’re going to survive.”

Dr Maguire said raising awareness of the birds was not the full solution. “No amount of education can enable you to avoid these highly camouflaged birds when you’re driving on the beach. Even experts who locate these nests with ease and know these birds back to front, have difficulty spotting them on the beach. Trying to spot them while driving a vehicle is nearly impossible.”

The colony of Fairy Terns that nest at the location each year is monitored by scientists and volunteers from the local community. Monitoring teams had counted 141 Fairy Tern nests at the site this season. “We were thrilled to see a record 83 fledglings this year. That’s the most successful breeding season since monitoring began. But to discover one of these fledglings killed by a car that absolutely shouldn’t be here at this time is just heartbreaking,” said Dr Maguire.

Despite support from BirdLife Australia, Birds SA, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation, and local land managers for seasonal closures, the SA Government are yet to implement the approach. Kate Millar said BirdLife Australia would continue to call for targeted, seasonal closures. “This is not about a lack of solutions, it’s about an unwillingness to implement them. The death of another endangered bird needs to be a wake-up call. We need seasonal, targeted closures at critical breeding sites like this one to save endangered birds.”

BirdLife Australia Media Enquiries: Please contact James Johnson on 0423 659 324 or at media@birdlife.org.au.

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