Floating nests and decoys: how fairy terns are being charmed back to Port Phillip Bay

<p>These small seabirds are not faring well along Australia’s south-eastern coastline, but there is hope for their resurgence thanks to some novel tactics</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/14/australian-bird-of-the-year-2025-poll-vote-nominate-shortlist-guardian-birdlife-australia">Australian bird of the year 2025: nominate your favourite now</a></p></li></ul><p>It’s an attractive piece of real estate – coastal living in a safe neighbourhood with waterfront views, 55km south-west of Melbourne. The floating island, installed at the Avalon coastal reserve on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, features sand and shell grit floorings, and twigs and branches for cozy nooks.</p><p>It’s been specially designed for Australian fairy terns by BirdLife’s waterbird program manager, Chris Purnell, who has deployed some unusual tactics to charm them.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/29/fairy-terns-returning-to-port-phillip-bay-floating-nests-decoys">Continue reading...</a>