Lara man fined for disturbing critically endangered fairy tern habitat

Authorities launched an investigation after BirdLife Australia reported research equipment used to monitor the birds in the area had been stolen, which resulted in a man being fined.

3D printed fairy terns were stolen from BirdLife Australia in Avalon.

A man from Geelong’s north has been fined for disturbing the habitat of a critically endangered native animal.

A Lara man will have to stump up $790 after an investigation conducted by the Conservation Regulator and Victoria Police into disruptions at Avalon Coast Reserve, a Ramsar site home to the fairy tern.

The investigation was launched after BirdLife Australia reported research equipment used to monitor the birds in the area had been stolen.

The stolen equipment, including a monitoring camera and decoy 3D printed fairy terns, was taken from an artificial habitat pontoon.

Habitat for the fairy tern was also disturbed during the incident.

the incident was caught on camera, with the footage used by police to assist their investigation.

The artificial pontoon at Avalon Coastal Reserve.

The man was issued an infringement for disturbing wildlife habitat under the Wildlife Act 1975, and all research equipment was successfully returned to Birdlife Australia.

Acting chief conservation regulator Wayne Robins said, “Victorian native wildlife and their habitat are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.”

“It is an offence to disturb wildlife or to damage, disturb or destroy wildlife habitat.

“It is especially concerning to see the habitat of a critically endangered species being disturbed.

“If you are aware of anyone disturbing wildlife or wildlife habitat you can report it by calling Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.”

BirdLife Australia estimate there to be between 2500 and 10,000 mature Fairy Terns left in the wild across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, with an estimated 120 to 150 breeding pairs in Victoria.

Nesting Fairy Tern with chick. Credit: Eric J Woehler.

“This research is so important for the endangered fairy tern and it’s vital that we are able to continue this work without disturbance,” a spokesman said.

Avalon Coastal Reserve is part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site, and is used by fairy terns for foraging and roosting.

A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, signed in Iran in 1971.

Australia has 67 Ramsar sites covering over 8.3m hectares.

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Originally published as Lara man fined for disturbing critically endangered fairy tern habitat