Jeffries and Brunton (2001): Attracting endangered species to ‘safe’ habitats: responses to fairy terns of decoys.

Jeffries, D.S. & Brunton, D.H. 2001. Attracting endangered species to ‘safe’ habitats: responses to fairy terns of decoys. Animal Conservation 4: 301-305.

The New Zealand fairy tern is considered an endangered subspecies. The aims of this study were to quantify fairy tern responses to decoys and sound recordings and determine the viability of this technique for re-establishment of this species in protected habitat. Sixteen decoy trials were conducted at Papakanui Spit (36º06’ S, 174º36’ E). The decoy models were effective in attracting fairy terns to a specific area with >80% of landing episodes occurring in the decoy plots. The effectiveness of attracting terns to a specific site has potential as a safe and efficient means of trapping adults away from the nest.