Hooded plover, fledged after 47 days at the Second Surf Beach blowout.Photos: David Hartney
By David Hartney
AFTER a very slow start to the 2022-23 breeding season, Bass Coast’s hooded plovers had their best season for many years, with a record-equalling 22 fledged juveniles between Cape Paterson and San Remo.
Four chicks fledged at the Cape Paterson breeding sites, the first to fledge along this section of the coast since 2019. They included one at Pea Creek estuary, the first since 2012, and one from the Second Surf dune blowout, the first since 2018.
AFTER a very slow start to the 2022-23 breeding season, Bass Coast’s hooded plovers had their best season for many years, with a record-equalling 22 fledged juveniles between Cape Paterson and San Remo.
Four chicks fledged at the Cape Paterson breeding sites, the first to fledge along this section of the coast since 2019. They included one at Pea Creek estuary, the first since 2012, and one from the Second Surf dune blowout, the first since 2018.
This was my second full season as a volunteer. I got very emotional when some of the birds I was monitoring closely were banded/flagged and I had the chance to get close and personal, knowing they now had a great chance of becoming adult birds and sustaining the population of this very vulnerable species.
Having lived here for tens of thousands of years, only 700 of the once abundant hooded plovers survive on Victorian beaches, so every chick that makes it to adulthood is a win. These 22 juveniles are a great addition to the population.
Having lived here for tens of thousands of years, only 700 of the once abundant hooded plovers survive on Victorian beaches, so every chick that makes it to adulthood is a win. These 22 juveniles are a great addition to the population.
| This season we had nine registered volunteers in the Cape area who each did what they could to monitor first the nests, then the eggs and then the chicks. There is great excitement when the chicks hatch but there are still so many things that can go wrong. Each time we go out to check the nests and birds, there is a feeling of trepidation, wondering what we are going to find. It’s a long haul – at least 28 days to hatch and at least 35 days to fledge. From the identification of the nest and eggs, in some cases, a period of some 75 days had elapsed – some of ours didn’t fledge until the 47 day mark! | Successful fledgings, 2023
Friends of the Hooded Plover – Bass Coast |
Hooded plover juvenile, Cape Paterson west end, Wilsons Road, March 14, 2023. By the end of it the adult hoodies are literally exhausted. The volunteers aren't far behind! There is also a great sense of relief.
There are several reasons why this season was a good one. Some of the success can be attributed to the community awareness program initiated this year by Birdlife Australia and the Friends of the Hooded Plovers – Bass Coast, along with land managers Parks Victoria, Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Landcare and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
The use of community social media platforms, pop-up information stalls, banners and ‘sandwich news boards’ at popular beach locations helped. The Cape Paterson area was also supported this season by a generous donation from The Cape eco village.
As volunteers we are taught how to cope with the occasional abuse from a few beachgoers. I try not to initiate confrontational situations (we have no enforcement powers) and focus on raising awareness. I also try not to focus on irresponsible dog owners unless it is an obvious criminal offence where birds are killed or injured. Our job is to report the threats to the appropriate authorities. Patrolling and beach presence by our hard-working Parks Vic Rangers is also helping.
With more volunteer monitors on the beaches interacting with beach users while they observe the birds, we are finding there is a sense of community ownership and responsibility emerging among the public. Joe Citizen is now taking up the cause as well against irresponsible beach users.
For volunteers it is a real treat to receive positive feedback and plaudits from beach goers who show a real interest in the hoodies’ well-being.
There are several reasons why this season was a good one. Some of the success can be attributed to the community awareness program initiated this year by Birdlife Australia and the Friends of the Hooded Plovers – Bass Coast, along with land managers Parks Victoria, Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Landcare and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
The use of community social media platforms, pop-up information stalls, banners and ‘sandwich news boards’ at popular beach locations helped. The Cape Paterson area was also supported this season by a generous donation from The Cape eco village.
As volunteers we are taught how to cope with the occasional abuse from a few beachgoers. I try not to initiate confrontational situations (we have no enforcement powers) and focus on raising awareness. I also try not to focus on irresponsible dog owners unless it is an obvious criminal offence where birds are killed or injured. Our job is to report the threats to the appropriate authorities. Patrolling and beach presence by our hard-working Parks Vic Rangers is also helping.
With more volunteer monitors on the beaches interacting with beach users while they observe the birds, we are finding there is a sense of community ownership and responsibility emerging among the public. Joe Citizen is now taking up the cause as well against irresponsible beach users.
For volunteers it is a real treat to receive positive feedback and plaudits from beach goers who show a real interest in the hoodies’ well-being.