• Mayor Logan Howlett with Coastcare’s Craig Wilson and decoy tern.

FAIRY terns at Woodman Point are being hoodwinked by fibreglass decoys in an attempt to encourage them to nest in the area.

Cockburn environmental manager Chris Beaton says because the birds tend to nest in groups, the decoys can attract them to a specific area.

“A temporary fence has been installed at the southern end of Woodman Point beach, which will protect the nesting site and provide the birds more opportunities to breed” says Mr Beaton.

He hopes the fakes will be as successful as a similar Kwinana project.

Terns nest on beaches, but their habitat is encroached upon by cats, foxes, beachgoers and dogs.

“These birds travel from northern WA to the city’s beaches in October to breed each year,” Mr Beaton says.

He hopes universities will catch wind of the project, which continues until April, when the terns return north.