Little birds take a “tern" for the better at Kingscliff
AN endangered bird is taking advantage of an area at Kingscliff beach that was set aside for another species.
A pair of Little Terns have arrive at the beach from eastern Asia and decided to set up a home in an area that was closed off to the public for nesting Pied Oystercatchers.
According to Tweed Shire Council, this was the first recorded Little Tern nest in the region since 1994.
The council's biodiversity officer Tanya Fountain said the terns needed to be undisturbed to breed successfully.
"The birds take flight very easily," Ms Fountain said.
"Little Tern and Pied Oystercatcher see humans and dogs as potential predators and the nesting adult birds take flight to distract attention away from their eggs or chicks.
"Despite the fact that no dogs are permitted on the southern section of Kingscliff Beach, we get frequent reports from concerned people reporting dogs on the beach and near the enclosure.
"We even had a report of a dog in the enclosure threatening the birds."
Ms Fountain said each time someone walks between the fence and the waterline the adults are taking flight off the nest, leaving the egg exposed.
"We are asking that if people do need to walk past the enclosure that they do it as quickly as possible, as this means that the parents will go back to the egg sooner."
