Fauna Spotters logo

Australian Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris melanops)

The Australian Lesser Noddy is a small seabird that breeds on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off Western Australia. It nests in mangroves, making mature mangrove stands important habitat for works planning.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

The breeding season runs from late July to early December.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding: The breeding season runs from late July to early December.

Identification: Appearance

This is a small, dark-plumaged tropical tern with a wingspan of about 60 cm.

This is a small, dark-plumaged tropical tern with a wingspan of about 60 cm.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The subspecies is known to breed on Pelsaert, Wooded and Morley Islands in the Houtman Abrolhos. It may also breed at Ashmore Reef, but its identity there has not been confirmed.

The subspecies is known to breed on Pelsaert, Wooded and Morley Islands in the Houtman Abrolhos. It may also breed at Ashmore Reef, but its identity there has not been confirmed.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It nests in stands of White or Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Its foraging habitat is less well known, but it feeds at sea, both near the islands and offshore.

It nests in stands of White or Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Its foraging habitat is less well known, but it feeds at sea, both near the islands and offshore.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It takes prey from or just below the water surface by dipping, without alighting. Reported prey includes small squid and fish.

It takes prey from or just below the water surface by dipping, without alighting. Reported prey includes small squid and fish.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It breeds colonially in mangrove trees on Pelsaert, Wooded and Morley Islands. The breeding season runs from late July to early December.

It breeds colonially in mangrove trees on Pelsaert, Wooded and Morley Islands. The breeding season runs from late July to early December.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

During the non-breeding period, birds have been observed returning to roost in their mangrove nesting habitat.

During the non-breeding period, birds have been observed returning to roost in their mangrove nesting habitat.

Threats: Threats

Mangrove dieback and defoliation have been associated with desertion of some monitored nests. Sea-level rise and changes in sea temperature and oceanography are also identified as pressures for the species.

Mangrove dieback and defoliation have been associated with desertion of some monitored nests. Sea-level rise and changes in sea temperature and oceanography are also identified as pressures for the species.

Threats: Works risk

Works that clear or modify mature mangrove stands could remove or degrade essential nesting habitat. Habitat modification may have severe consequences for the population.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened birds, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Mangrove

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It nests in stands of White or Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: WA.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources