Protecting Hooded Plovers
About this page
GORCC is working with Birds Australia and other partners to protect the Surf Coast's only known regular Hooded Plover breeding site at Point Roadknight.This year's breeding season is now underway - check out our latest 'Hoodie' update.
The Hooded Plover is a little Aussie bird battling to survive. The species is already extinct in Queensland and northern New South Wales while only 400 remain in Victoria.
With the breeding season now in full swing until next March, these vulnerable little birds need all the help they can get to ensure they breed successfully. Last year for example, Birds Australia monitored 180 birds along the Victorian coast. Of 353 eggs laid, only 35 chicks survived with Point Roadknight being the most successful breeding site in the state.
The Surf Coast cannot, however, afford to rest on its laurels because 35 surviving chicks for the whole of Victoria will not sustain population numbers.
Residents and visitors can help protect these endangered birds by observing the special signs identifying nesting sites along Point Roadknight beach and staying well away from the birds. To help minimise threats to local wildlife, this area is now a designated dog-free zone.
More information about Hooded Plovers can be found on the Birds Australia website or on our Hooded Plover information sheet.
LATEST 'HOODIE' UPDATE (11 DEC 2008): Point Roadknight has become a veritable breeding ground for our endangered Hooded Plovers with two current nesting pairs and another two other pairs who appear about to nest. One of the new nests is unfortunately built below spring high tide level, which saw two of three eggs washed out of the nest. This nest also happens to be within the 'dogs off-leash' zone. Although signs and some basic fencing have been placed around it, the nest is in a bad spot and unlikely to be successful. Apart from this pair's unfortunate choice of nesting site, it's great to have four nesting pairs in the Point Roadknight area as we head into summer.
Dogs' Breakfast @ Point Roadknight on Friday 9 January 2009: Dogs and their owners are invited to learn more about Hooded Plover conservation and ways in which people, pets and wildlife can all get along at this event jointly hosted by Birds Australia and the Department of Sustainability and Environment from 8am to 10am at the Point Roadknight foreshore kiosk.
(27 NOV 2008): It's official! Our Point Roadknight Hooded Plovers have successfully reared two chicks, the first to fledge in Victoria this season. And it's still very early in the breeding season too! The two chicks were recently spotted stretching their wings in preparation for flight. They were later also sighted near the Point Roadknight boat ramp, which is well away from their nesting site, a sure sign of them being ready to leave the nest! As it's likely that the birds will nest again this summer - not to mention several other nesting pairs being recently observed in the area - the current protection efforts will continue to give this vulnerable bird species a fighting chance at survival. (Photos courtesy Glenn Ehmke)
.jpg)
.jpg)
