Community encouraged to protect plovers

BEACHGOERS are being urged to follow precautions and signage to help ensure the survival of Hooded Plovers chicks.

The small birds have recently hatched at Point Roadknight and a new nest site has been found at Lorne, along the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has established Exclusion Zones at both sites to protect the vulnerable birds in a bid to raise their survival rate from just 2.5 per cent.

GORCAPA acting director of environment and coastal operations Leia Howes said plovers need the support of the community over the summer period.

“This is heartwarming news, but we all need to work together to keep these hoodie chicks safe because the odds are stacked against them.

“For these cute little birds to survive, they’ll need to make it through the first 35 days before they can fly and escape predators.

“It’s very rare for chicks to survive this hatching stage, so we urge everyone to do their part, especially by walking dogs in other areas.

“We’ve had fantastic cooperation from the community and local volunteers during previous temporary Exclusion Zones, and we’re hopeful for the same support this time around.”

The general public are encouraged to continue to keep a respectful distance and take their dogs to another beach or well outside the exclusion zones.

The chicks will begin feeding immediately after hatching and will use the whole beach including the intertidal zone and foredune, potentially outside the Exclusion Zone.

When hiding in the sand they aren’t feeding, which is critical to their growth and development.

For more, head to https://www.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/Home