As at this week, 99 young fledglings have taken to the air, getting them safely away from human intervention and animal predation.

A fresh count will conducted either this Sunday or Monday, and National Parks ranger Michael Thomas expects the number to then be “well over the ton” - perhaps as many as 120 or 130.

“It might have been as high as 180 if we hadn’t had the problems we’ve had this season at Farquhar (Old Bar),” Michael said, “but still, anything over 100 is a bonus.”

The twin entrances to the Manning River - at Manning Point and Farquhar Inlet - combine to provide what is recognised as the most successful east coast breeding site for the endangered Little Terns.

Monitoring of numbers has now continued for 11 years with the best seasons resulting in between 120 and 130 fledglings.

Overall, Manning Point has provided the larger numbers, with the numbers fluctuating annually between the two sites.

This year, it’s again been Manning Point that the largest number of young birds have fledged - and there are still lots more to come.

Old Bar started the season tragically with the loss of many eggs and chicks to foxes, and even despite rigid baiting programs and public awareness campaigns, as late as last week another fox snuck in and made a meal of a lot of young birds and eggs.

Some of the parents which have lost eggs and chicks at Old Bar have moved north and successfully laid a second clutch at Manning Point, ranger Thomas said.

But even there, there have been problems.

“We know we lost some... squished by four wheel drive vehicles...on the night of the Harrington fireworks. It’s very difficult to see a chick or eggs at night.

“Then there were the people pulling up in boats on the inside of the channel. Despite the warning signs, they went inside the barriers to play ball games, or let their dogs loose.”