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AT-2. Hooded Plover - Phillip Island Nature Park Notes phillip island nature park The Nature HOODED Notes PLOVER

Q. What is its classification? Scientific name: Thinornis rubricollis Other names: Hooded Dotterel or Dotterel, (colloquially) Hoodie. Family: Charadriinae Order: Charadriiformes

Q. How do I recognize them? They are well camouflaged (especially the chicks) when A. Hooded Plover adults are medium-size shorebirds on beaches so it is easy to not see them. (19 to 23cm long) with a black ‘hood’, white nape, black hind neck and white under parts. They have a black- tipped red beak and red around their eye ring. Sexes are Q. I don’t seem to see many on the Island! similar in appearance. How many are there? Immature birds are sandy brown, lack the black head A. There are two separate populations recognised and hind neck, brown bill with an orange wash at the in Australia: Western Australia and south-eastern base, and pale orange legs. Australia (South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales). Population estimates for south eastern Australia range up to 3000 birds and Victoria 334-538 birds. On Phillip Island (during autumn and winter) the birds flock onto just three or four beaches with total numbers varying from 21 to 42. Sixty percent of chicks are lost before fledging, of which, fifty percent are lost in the first seven days after hatching. Hooded Plover nests often fail and they may have up to four clutches per season. Last season was particularly disappointing where 122 eggs were laid and yet only 6 chicks survived. Phillip Island is probably one of the only places in the world where Hooded Plovers are increasing thanks to research and intensive management and public support.

Phillip Island Nature Park PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria, 3922 5951 2800 [email protected] www.penguins.org.au phillip island nature park The Nature HOODED Notes PLOVER

Q. Where am I likely to see one of these rare birds? Q: What are the threats to the hooded plover? A. On Phillip Island Hooded Plovers are seen along A: Their breeding success is extremely low. southern and western shorelines and more isolated Introduced predators include foxes, dogs and feral bay beaches on the northern side. They forage on cats. Other predators include raptors, rodents and the sand, along the waterline and on intertidal scavenging birds which take Hooded Plovers, chicks rock platforms. They are also seen sheltering on and eggs. the beach behind clumps of seaweed. Hooded Nests are very difficult to see and are easily damaged Plovers often like nesting with indigenous Hairy and disturbed by beach goers. Spinifex (Spinifex sericeus), while Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria), introduced to stabilise dunes, Natural forces such as high tides, storms, windblown changes the dune to a steeper profile often causing sand and temperature extremes also affect their instability and potential nesting failure. Weeds such survival. as Sea Spurge (Euphorpia paralias) can choke out Hooded Plovers are easily entangled in fishing line suitable nesting habitat while Boxthorn (Lycium and other rubbish left on beaches. ferocissimum) and Gorse (Ulex europaeus) provide Oil Spills and the subsequent clean up can greatly harbour for predators. impact local populations. Birds can ingest oil through preening and food sources are negatively affected.

Q. How do they breed and why is their survival rate so low? Chicks and eggs are picked up by walkers, often A. Clutches are laid (1-3 fawn and brown speckled eggs) with the best intentions, who think the parents have from August to March with the peak laying period in abandoned them. The Plovers are in fact just trying to distract intruders by running away. January which coincides with peak human visitation to Phillip Island. On Phillip Island nest sites can be Hooded Plovers are often mistaken for Masked classified into three types based on geomorphology; Lapwings which are larger and more common. stony terrace, primary dune and flat beach. Nests are usually a depression ‘scrape’ in the sand, when on stony terraces they are often lined with light coloured Q: Are Hooded Plovers endangered? A: Hooded Plovers are listed as vulnerable in Victoria grit or seaweed. Nests are located above average high and listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of tide levels. Pairs defend a territory from other birds 1988 and listed as near threatened according to the so there are usually only one or two nesting pairs per IUCN Red List of 2008. beach. Eggs are camouflaged and both parents share incubation for about 28 days. When the eggs hatch the parents teach the chicks to feed and to quickly find Q. What do they do to increase survival rates? shelter in beach vegetation. The young stay with their A. There are three strategies Hooded Plovers utilise parents until they are fledged and probably for some to avoid threats; camouflage (passive), distraction time afterwards. Chicks must feed themselves from day or fleeing. one and usually take 4-5 weeks to fledge. The young Camouflage: Parents provide shelter for eggs and are able to fly when about five weeks old. chicks with their bodies and wings and often sit very Hooded Plovers are listed as vulnerable in Victoria and still to avoid detection. listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988 Distraction: If surprised by walkers and/or dogs the and listed as near threatened according to the IUCN parents will call and perform distraction displays such Red List of 2008. as feigning a broken wing, to both warn chicks and

Phillip Island Nature Park PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria, 3922 5951 2800 [email protected] www.penguins.org.au phillip island nature park The Nature HOODED Notes PLOVER

distract predators. Chicks bob down immediately Q. How can I help? or seek shelter when people, dogs and predators A. threaten, leaving them open to exposure, predation • Read signs thoroughly before you enter an area. or crushing. If young are constantly disturbed they • Don’t take your dog into areas where they are not will use all their valuable energy running and hiding allowed (pick up a ‘Where can I walk my dog’ from danger instead of feeding. brochure from any Phillip Island Nature Park outlet). Fleeing: Parent birds will call to their chicks to hide • When walking, keep below the high tide line and or lead them away from approaching danger. watch where you are walking. • Do not allow your dog or cat to roam from your Q. What do they eat? property. Keep them in at night and place a collar A. Hooded Plovers feed by sight using their large eyes and bell on them. and short bills. They are opportunistic feeders, eating • Only walk on pathways and boardwalks. a variety of invertebrates, such as amphipod crustaceans (sand hoppers), molluscs, insects, • Pick up rubbish such as fishing lines and other polychaete worms and plant material such as seeds plastic from the beach and place rubbish in the bin and turions (winter buds produced by many aquatic or recycle. plants). • If you see Hooded Plovers on the beach, protect nests by walking as close to the waterline as you can.

Q. What is being done to ensure their survival on • Contact Phillip Island Nature Park staff if you see Hooded Plovers nesting. Phillip Island? A. Phillip Island Nature Park, along with local • Contact Phillip Island Nature Park staff if you see conservation groups and volunteers have been dogs, cats or foxes on the loose. Please note exact monitoring the hooded plover population since the location (03 5951 2800). 1980’s. Recent plans have focused on increasing breeding success and adult survival. The strategies include; • Fencing off breeding beaches from wandering sheep and cattle. • Controlling pest plants and animals especially foxes, dogs and cats. • Enforcing regulations prohibiting dogs and horses on breeding beaches. • Public Education Programs. Volunteers are involved in the ‘Hooded Plover Watch’ program and ranger presence on beaches during the breeding season. Erecting temporary fencing and signage around vulnerable nests. Interpretive signage and school visits. • Population monitoring through nest records and leg banding of chicks.

Phillip Island Nature Park PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria, 3922 5951 2800 [email protected] www.penguins.org.au AT-3. Bass Coast Shire Hooded Plover Strategy Framework

HOODED PLOVER CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY for the Bass Coast Shire

VISION

HEALTHY, VIABLE POPULATION OF HOODED PLOVERS BEING MAINTAINED ACROSS THE BASS COAST, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE

KEY PRINCIPLES

COORDINATED EFFORT ALIGNMENT EFFECTIVE PROTECTION

IMPLEMENTATION

• Partnerships & • Local plans (existing) • Fill knowledge gaps Governance • Regional plans • Strategic resource • Funding • Statewide strategies allocation • Information • National strategies • Communications plan • Resourcing • Latest research • Strategic enforcement • Support & training • Broader conservation • Optimise habitat • Scheduling goals in Shire • Threat management • Behavioural change • Education • Maintain records

EVALUATION & IMPROVEMENT

Determination of metrics, with bi-annual meetings & reporting on progress for 3 key factors:

1. overarching strategy 2. two locality plans (Bass Coastline & Phillip Island) 3. site-specific & Shire-wide breeding success.

1