Fairy Terns, one of Australia’s smallest and most threatened seabirds, are currently experiencing major population declines in South-eastern Australia. Large breeding colonies are now a rarity in Victoria and historical breeding sites are vacant. The coastline and islands around Western Port and Port Phillip Bay are known Fairy Tern breeding locations and are significant to future recovery in Victoria.

With a declining population and continuing threatening processes occurring throughout their breeding range, Fairy Terns have been listed as Critically Endangered in Victoria. Since 2016, BirdLife Australia has led a Victorian Fairy Tern steering committee and worked collaboratively with local land managers to implement and deliver monitoring and management of Fairy Terns within Western Port and Port Phillip Bay.

This project specifically aims to continue monitoring Victorian Fairy Tern populations as well as identify, monitor and manage habitat and threats which are critical to ensure long-term breeding success for the species. Alongside monitoring and threat mitigation, it is essential to grow community awareness and education of the species through targeted resources and events.

Furthermore, research is required to overcome critical knowledge gaps in the species ecology to inform management actions and enhance conservation efforts for the species.