Table 3.
Timeline showing the development of the beach-nesting colony at Mandurah, disturbance and predation events, and management activities undertaken during the 2018–2019 breeding season (30 October 2018 to 31 December 2019).
| Date | Timeline of Events |
|---|---|
| 28 Oct 2018 | Annual sand-by passing program ceased. |
| 30 Oct 2018 | Three Fairy Tern nests observed on the beach; 1 nest subsequently destroyed (eggs eaten) by Silver Gulls, Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae. |
| 2 Nov 2018 | ~34 nests on the beach; unleashed dog on beach close to the colony. |
| 7 Nov 2018 | Two nests moved, incrementally, up the beach due to continued erosion. |
| 11 Nov 2018 | Beach eroding-corner post of roped area fallen down; ~20 nests on the beach. |
| 15 Nov 2018 | Human foot tracks leading into the colony but stopped near closest nest. |
| 17 Nov 2018 | Several nests abandoned close to water due to the beach eroding. New nests being made on higher ground. |
| 18 Nov 2018 | Human foot tracks leading through the middle of the colony. Children running close to the edge of the roped area. |
| 19 Nov 2018 | Beach continuing to erode; roped area on water side of colony re-adjusted. |
| 23 Nov 2018 | ~40 nests on the beach. |
| 26 Nov 2018 | 5 unleashed small dogs playing at the edge of the colony; birds unsettled. ~40 nests on beach. |
| 29 Nov 2018 | Large dog foot-tracks observed in the colony. Fairy Tern observed discarding an egg-shell (with small embryo inside) at the water’s edge (Corker, C. 2018, Fairy Tern Conservation Network, pers. comm.). |
| 5 Dec 2018 | First two chicks on the beach hatched. Chick-shelters installed to provide protection against aerial predators. |
| 13 Dec 2018 | One chick found 100 m down the beach; contractors installed shade cloth fencing around the colony to prevent incursions by humans and dogs. Rangers close off area between the sanctuary and the beach-colony to protect nesting birds. |
| 16 Dec 2018 | Nankeen Kestrel, Falco cenchroides, depredating chicks from the beach; 21 nests including 10 chicks. Several tern pairs moved chicks up on to the rock wall. Some nests were noted as having been abandoned. |
| 23 Dec 2018 | Several nests sighted on sea wall between beach colony and sanctuary. |
| 26 Dec 2018 | Nankeen Kestrel observed depredating chick from the beach. |
| 31 Dec 2018 | Chick-shelters removed from nesting area as site had been abandoned. |