Hoodie heartbreak as Aireys Inlet chicks lost in suspected nankeen kestrel attack

THE successful hatching of three hooded plover chicks in Aireys Inlet has ended in heartbreak, after they were last week lost in a suspected attack by nankeen kestrels.

The chicks had been the first to hatch at the site for a period of about five years, with the region’s self-confessed “plover lovers” rallying together to support the chicks until they managed to take flight.

The loss of the chicks at Aireys Inlet has reduced the number of hooded plover chicks across the region from nine to six, 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.

While the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has already removed the exclusion zone at Aireys Inlet, exclusion zones are still in place at each of these four successful locations to help limit the impacts of dogs and human activity on nesting areas.

They will remain until the chicks take flight, typically 35 days after they hatch.

The hoodie population faces 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.

Despite the loss in Aireys Inlet, the successful hatching of three hooded plover chicks at the site has been celebrated as an exciting marker of progress, with the authority’s acting director of environment and coastal operations Leia Howes stating the “fantastic milestone” showed ongoing efforts to boost community education and awareness of the species were “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.”

 

 

She encouraged everyone to come together to protect the vulnerable birds and to ensure “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,” she said.

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 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.

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.

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.