The City is urging the community to help protect newly hatched Hooded Plover chicks on our local beaches.
Four chicks are located across two nesting sites between Collendina and Point Lonsdale within the Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve.
Two chicks have also just hatched at a Breamlea nest.
Hooded Plovers – affectionately known as "hoodies" – nest directly on the sand, making them extremely vulnerable to disturbance from people, dogs and even weather events. With only around 750 hoodies left in Victoria, every chick is critical to the species' survival.
Once hatched, Hoodie chicks take around five weeks to fledge, meaning they grow enough feathers and strength to fly. Until then, they rely on camouflage and the protection of their parents. They move constantly along the beach to feed, which makes them especially vulnerable to dogs, people, predators and heat stress.
With the odds against them, nesting attempts so far this breeding season have failed, but the six current chicks are doing well.
The chicks are expected to fledge on the following dates:
Two chicks hatched 2 February at Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve – estimated fledging 9 March
Two chicks hatched 11 February at Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve – estimated fledging 18 March
Two chicks hatched 8 February at Breamlea – estimated fledging 15 March
The City's Environment and Animal Management teams are supporting Friends of the Hooded Plover volunteers on the beach to educate visitors and help reduce risks. Weekends are particularly important as visitor numbers rise.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
Hooded Plovers are one of our most threatened coastal birds, and these tiny chicks are relying on all of us to give them the best chance of survival.Our teams and volunteers are doing all they can on the ground, but community behaviour is the real difference-maker. Please follow signs and advice – it's not for long, just for the next few weeks until the chicks fledge.
I want to thank everyone who has already shown care and patience. If we can protect these vulnerable shore birds it will be a great outcome for our environment.
Environment and Circular Economy portfolio chair Councillor Elise Wilkinson
These chicks are only days old and incredibly vulnerable. The next few weeks are make-or-break for them.We're asking the community to support the efforts over the coming weeks. Walk at the water's edge, respect temporary fencing and closures, and keep dogs on leads at all times in these areas. These small actions have a huge impact.
I also want to acknowledge the dedicated volunteers who monitor nests, educate beachgoers and help us protect this species. Their commitment is extraordinary.
Friends of the Hooded Plover volunteer regional coordinator Tash Verspeek
Our main aim is to give precious Hoodies on the nest, or with chicks, the space they need so they can go about incubating eggs and protecting and guiding their offspring to hide from threats and forage and feed when it's safe.Trained Birdlife Volunteers in the Beach Nesting Birds Project provide essential education and communication to all beach goers and dog walkers near vulnerable Hoodie breeding sites.
We love it when we can show the community using the binoculars or the scope how special and resilient Hoodies are and how cute and fluffy their chicks are. But it's also how we can create better understanding of just how vulnerable the chicks are.
Hoodie conservation requires a collaborative approach and it's so wonderful when it all comes together and the result is another successful fledgling being added to the Hoodie population.
