THE Rous Head bird breeding sanctuary has been a big hit with fairy terns, who’ve been attracted in healthy numbers to nest in the area after being lured in by decoy birds.

Fremantle Ports set up the sanctuary ahead of the breeding season, putting aside 3400sqm at the north end of the industrial site. The Australian fairy tern is a vulnerable species with somewhere between 3000 and 9000 left.

Freo Ports’ acting CEO Allan Gray says the birds’ habitat was elevated to keep them from being disturbed by goings on at the port, and it’s been covered with a shelly sandy layer the terns like to scrape up to make a nest.