Conservationists celebrate hooded plover success

SELF-CONFESSED “plover lovers” across the Surf Coast are celebrating the successful hatching of three hooded plover chicks in Aireys Inlet for the first time in about five years.

Janice Carpenter has been co-ordinating the efforts of the Surf Coast Friends of the Hooded Plover for the past five years.

She said the conservation group was in urgent need of new volunteers to assist with both the protection of these highly vulnerable shorebirds and educating the community about the threats the species face and encouraged anyone interested to get in touch.

“It’s a cause I believe in. We should try and improve our ability to keep these different species going and these ones are very vulnerable. We really do need some help here,” she said.

But volunteering isn’t just a great way to give back to the environment, it also provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, Ms Carpenter said.

Volunteers will receive training online through BirdLife Australia, as well as on the ground.

The team’s efforts are supported by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, who help to protect the threatened species by setting up beach exclusion zones when hooded plover nests appear along the coast.

 

Ms Carpenter said the local community had again been incredibly supportive of the measures in place and praised them for their respect and patience around the existing exclusion zones.

The hoodie population face a wide variety of threats to their survival, including tides, predation from other bird species and foxes, as well as disturbance from humans and dogs, with chicks having just a two per cent chance of survival once they hatch.

The authority’s acting director of environment and coastal operations Leia Howes described the successful hatching as a “fantastic milestone” that shows ongoing efforts to boost community education and awareness of the species was “headed in the right direction”.

“Our current measures are already having an impact and we remain committed to adapting our approach based on best-practice management,” she said.

“We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to give the hoodies the best chance of survival.”

This significant progress has also been reflected in other areas along the coast, with one chick at Point Roadknight, one chick at Kennett River, two chicks at the Barham River in Apollo Bay and two chicks at Ocean Park Drive in Mounts Bay.

“Exclusion zones are in place at these five sites to help limit the impacts of dogs and human activity on nesting areas,” Ms Howes said.

“We’re asking everyone to come together to protect these vulnerable birds, ensuring future generations can enjoy the environmental values we cherish today.

“We’re blessed with many beautiful beaches along the coast and by choosing to walk at an alternative location and respecting exclusion zones, everyone can make a meaningful difference.”

These exclusion zones will remain in place until the chicks take flight, typically 35 days after they hatch.

Another nest has been spotted in Torquay at Whites Beach and the Surf Coast volunteers are eagerly waiting to see if those eggs hatch in the coming days.

For more information, or to join the local support effort, phone Janice Carpenter on 0418 375 561.