The lives of these diminutive birds interact with many coastal management issues including the health of near-shore marine habitats, shoreline stability, changing sea-level, introduced weeds, feral animals and the behavioural interactions between people and wildlife.
Fairy Terns are probably threatened, or at least conservation dependent, and require dedicated species-specific management. Beyond that, however, the continued presence of these charismatic birds stands as both an indicator and a symbol of ecological sustainability in south-western Australia’s coastal zone.