NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are urgently alerting concert-goers to the Rolling Sets Musical Festival at The Entrance Memorial Park today to be aware of endangered nesting little terns on nearby North Entrance Beach (Karagi Point).
Central Coast Council has closed the North Entrance Beach and car park to all public access today until 8 am Sunday, temporarily fencing off the area to protect a colony of endangered little terns.
"Endangered little terns nest here once a year after flying from south-east Asia – right now there are around 100 chicks and 100 eggs on the beach – and overspill crowds from the Festival could devastate the population," NSW NPWS Threatened Species officer Katherine Howard said.
"As long as people only go to the concert at The Entrance Memorial Park it should be fine, but if you couldn't get a ticket and were planning on hitting the beach to hear the music, be aware that North Entrance beach is closed today. If you want to hear the music, stick to the South side of The Entrance." Ms Howard said.
"Karagi Point is currently the most important nesting site for endangered little terns in New South Wales."
Last year, Karagi Point had more breeding pairs and produced more fledglings of this endangered species than any other site in New South Wales. Of the 194 fledglings produced statewide in 2021–22, Karagi Point produced 96, or almost half of all little terns chicks fledged in New South Wales from this one site.
"The festival organisers have been great, they are putting up electronic signs warning concert-goers to keep to Memorial Park and not to try accessing the closed beach or car park across the water.
"Nesting little terns are very sensitive to disturbance. Parents respond to the presence of people by flying off the nest, leaving eggs and chicks exposed to the elements and at risk of predation or accidental crushing.
"If parent terns are off the nest for too long the eggs or chicks may die."
