![\"Volunteers](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/In-Article-Picture-25.png\")
<\/p>\nA LOCAL volunteer group is hopeful for this year\u2019s hooded plover breeding season, with four nests already being monitored in the Surf Coast region.<\/p>\n
\u2018Friends of the Hooded Plover, Surf Coast\u2019 is a volunteer group that monitors and works to protect the endangered beach-nesting shorebirds.<\/p>\n
Regional group co-ordinator Janice Carpenter, who oversees the monitoring of hooded plover nests from Torquay to Moggs Creek, said this year three nests had already been located in Anglesea, and one in Aireys Inlet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe season has just started, but for our area to have four nests already is miraculous,\u201d Ms Carpenter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically here in our area we don\u2019t actually get chicks until late in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re really hopeful that we can get fledglings early on this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the August to March breeding season, one pair will often attempt to rear chicks more than four times.<\/p>\n
Without human help, hooded plovers have a less than a 3 per cent chance of surviving from egg to adult.<\/p>\n
Last breeding season, only seven fledglings survived along the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula.<\/p>\n
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Ms Carpenter said that now that restrictions have eased in regional Victoria, once the fledglings hatch, volunteers will be rostered on the beach to check on the chicks and help educate beach goers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m finding that people are much more aware of the situation than they used to be, and much more caring,\u201d Ms Carpenter said.<\/p>\n
Hooded plover nests above the high tide level, making them vulnerable to disturbance and threats such as foxes, birds-of-prey and off-leash dogs.<\/p>\n
Friends of the Hooded Plover work closely with Birdlife Australia and coastal land managers to put up fencing and signage around the nesting birds.<\/p>\n
Birdlife Australia\u2019s beach-nesting birds co-ordinator Meghan Cullen said beach goers can help protect hooded plovers by walking close to the waters edge and putting dogs on leashes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDogs are a really significant threat to the birds, and something that is really easy to make a difference on,\u201d Ms Cullen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing beach-users can do is to look out for these temporary fenced-off areas and follow the instructions on the signs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Cullen said educating volunteers and beach goers has been a significant part of Birdlife Australia\u2019s work in protecting the endangered birds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always really keen to have people get involved.\u201d Ms Cullen said.<\/p>\n
Those interested in volunteering can find out more by heading to birdlife.org.au\/beach or emailing beachnestingbirds@birdlife.org.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A LOCAL volunteer group is hopeful for this year\u2019s hooded plover breeding season, with four nests already being monitored in the Surf Coast region. \u2018Friends of the Hooded Plover, Surf Coast\u2019 is a volunteer group that monitors and works to protect the endangered beach-nesting shorebirds. Regional group co-ordinator Janice Carpenter, who oversees the monitoring of […]<\/p>\n