Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Recovery Plan—Australian Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis nereis)) Instrument 2022
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Feeding
Australian Fairy Terns hover and then dive into shallow waters in order to catch small baitfish; however they may scavenge from shoals of feeding predatory fish (Higgins and Davies 1996; Dunlop 2018). Australian Fairy Terns feed almost entirely on fish in near-shore waters adjacent to nesting colonies and around island archipelagos (Higgins and Davis 1996). Fish species consumed include Australian
Anchovies (Engraulis australis), Pilchards (Sardinops neopilchardus), Striped Trumpeter (Latris lineata) and Blue Sprats (Spratelloides robustus) (Taylor and Roe 2007; E. Stephens pers. comm 2020). Fairy Terns have been observed opportunistically feeding on small squids during twilight hours (C. N. Greenwell pers. obs).