November 2008 Biennial Hooded Plover Count Report by Meghan Cullen, Catriona Campbell, Janelle Thomas (2008 Biennial count coordinator) and Grainne Maguire. Birds Australia National Office

2008 saw NSW included in the Hooded Plover biennial count for the first time ever. The November 2008 count also had the most extensive coverage of South Australian beaches surveyed to date, and better coverage of ’s beaches, in particular East Gippsland, than for the past few counts. In total, 270 surveys were conducted across three states. These are divided into zones that reflect the number of regional organisers for the count, rather than any biologically meaningful divide: two zones within NSW, 14 zones within Victoria and six zones within South Australia.

Overall, 216 volunteers and regional organisers participated in the November count; 94 in Victoria, 120 in South Australia and 2 (NPWS Shorebird coordinators) in NSW. With the inclusion of NSW and greater coverage of SA, these numbers show an increase in volunteer participation from the 2006 November count, where 179 volunteers participated within Victoria and South Australia.

2008 Results A summary of the number of birds, adult and juvenile, sighted in each zone for each state is shown in Table one.

In NSW, a total of 40 Hooded Plovers were sighted (39 adults, 1 juvenile). In Victoria, there were 405 Hooded Plovers sighted (382 adults, 23 juveniles) and in South Australia, 636 Hooded Plovers (593 adults, 43 juveniles) (Table 1). This makes a total for the three states of 1081 (1014 adults, 67 juveniles). This is in line with estimates that predict a maximum of 1160 birds for these three states.

In Victoria, 297 Pied Oystercatchers and 54 Sooty Oystercatchers were sighted, and in South Australia, 865 Pied Oystercatchers and 328 Sooty Oystercatchers were sighted (Table 1). Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers were not surveyed in NSW.

Table one: Total number of Hooded Plover, Pied Oystercatcher and Sooty Oystercatcher adults and juveniles sighted.

ZONE Hooded Plover Pied Oystercatcher Sooty Oystercatcher Adults Juvenile Adults Juvenile Adults Juvenile s s New South Wales Bateman’s Bay 20 1 - - - - Jervis Bay 19 0 - - - - TOTAL 39 1 - - - - Victoria 1. NSW border to Point 24 0 77 0 10 0 Hicks 2. Point Hicks to Marlo 22 0 79 0 2 0 3. 90 Mile Beach 4 0 14 0 0 0 5. Wilsons Promontory to 23 0 0 0 1 0 Waratah Bay 6. Cape Liptrap to San 34 0 2 0 2 0 Remo 7. Venus Bay 15 6 6 0 3 0 8. Phillip Island 33 0 25 0 20 0 9. Mornington Peninsula 62 5 0 0 11 0 10. Queenscliff to Lorne 27 4 1 0 0 0 11. Lorne to 25 6 2 0 4 0 Peterborough 12. Peterborough to 32 1 8 0 1 0 Warrnambool 13. Warrnambool to Cape 66 0 33 0 0 0 Bridgewater 14. Discovery Bay 15 1 50 0 0 0 TOTAL 382 23 297 0 54 0 South Australia SE SA 54 1 76 1 10 0 Coorong 46 2 165 0 2 0 Kangaroo Island 178 5 244 8 56 0 Fleurieu Peninsula 27 3 11 0 33 2 Yorke Peninsula 173 19 80 1 72 0 Eyre Peninsula 115 13 289 16 155 7 TOTAL 593 43 865 26 328 9

Temporal changes in each state While NSW has not formally participated in the biennial count until 2008, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have been closely monitoring the NSW population of critically endangered Hooded Plovers. Their 2008 South Coast Shorebird Recovery Newsletter (‘Sharing the Shoreline’) reveals that the population has varied between 55 and 46 individual birds since 2000. This biennial count figure (40 Hooded Plovers) is on the low side in comparison.

Due to the increased coverage in South Australia, 2008 saw an increase in Hooded Plovers numbers from 302 individuals (of which 267 were adults and 35 were juveniles) in November 2006 to 593 in the November 2008 count (Table 1). It is possible to make comparisons for Kangaroo Island, as we have had extensive coverage of this area with counts since 2004. Kangaroo Island surveys have recorded an increase in Hooded Plovers between 2004, 2006 and 2008, with total counts of 144, 175 and 180 respectively. However, the number of surveys has increased over these years, which is likely to at least partially explain this increase. The South Australian count of Pied Oystercatchers, 865 adults and 26 juveniles (Table 1), shows a significant increase in numbers compared with the 2006 November count of 261 adults and 4 juveniles. This increase is likely due to the superior coverage of SA beaches in 2008 and is more reflective of the true population size.

2008 showed only a slightly lower number for Hooded Plovers in Victoria compared with the 2006 November count. In 2006, 392 individuals were reported, of which 376 were adults and 15 juveniles. However, as Corner Inlet, zone four, was not surveyed in 2008, this would account for a maximum of 26 birds, tentatively bringing the state’s total to 408. The large difference in the number of Pied Oystercatchers recorded in Victoria in 2008, 292 individuals (Table 1), compared with 475 individuals recorded in the 2006 count, is again suspected to be a result of the Corner Inlet islands not being surveyed. This area can account for up to 150 Pied Oystercatchers. Sooty Oystercatchers have only been incidentally surveyed in past counts, so there is no comparative data.

Figure one: Hooded Plover chicks at Point Roadnight (Source: Glenn Ehmke)

Temporal changes in Victoria Table two presents the number of adults recorded across zones in Victoria for biennial counts since 2000. A number of the declines or increases in Hooded Plover numbers may be due to the variation in survey effort between years. The apparent decline (2007) subsequent increase (2008) in Hooded Plover numbers in Zone 1 (NSW border to Point Hicks) may be due to survey effort variation, with only one survey being undertaken in 2007 and five in 2008. The reduced Hooded Plover numbers in Zone 13 (Warrnambool to Cape Bridgewater) in 2008 may be in part due to the Port Fairy to Yambuk section remaining unsurveyed in the last count. However, an observer from this area believes that Hooded Plover numbers are down in this zone in general.

Meghan is currently mapping the extent of coverage of these counts to produce densities for direct comparison and will report this to you soon. She will also be working on production of maps for each zone, indicating the most frequent starting and finishing points. These will help us to ensure that future counts are made of consistent stretches of beach, enabling us to make direct comparisons over the years. Hayley Glover, an honours student of Mike Weston, discovered just how important it is to start and finish at the same points each biennial count when she started analyzing count data from 1980 to 2006. For example, she found that you couldn’t compare 15 birds from the Bellarine Peninsula in one year with another, if those 15 birds didn’t come from the exact same stretch of beach.

Table two: Comparison of total numbers of adult Hooded Plovers across Victorian zones from 2000- 2008.

Zone 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 2008 1. NSW border to Point 22 20 7 11 2 24 Hicks 2. Point Hicks to Marlo 21 4 37 19 18 22 3. 90 Mile Beach 62 6 18 8 0 4 4. Corner Inlet - 19 10 26 18 - 5. Wilsons Promontory to 5 18 18 44 53 23 Waratah Bay 6. Cape Liptrap to San 51 110 65 42 38 34 Remo 7. Venus Bay - - - 23 32 15 8. Phillip Island 28 27 34 32 28 33 9. Mornington Peninsula 42 44 37 37 61 62 10. Queenscliff to Lorne 19 18 4 22 17 27 11. Lorne to 20 13 16 20 11 25 Peterborough 12. Peterborough to 25 - 16 10 9 32 Warrnambool 13. Warrnambool to Cape 92 96 121 83 93 66 Bridgewater 14. Discovery Bay 36 57 12 15 25 15 TOTAL 423 432 395 392 405 382 *2007 was not a biennial count year and so coverage of the Victorian coast was not as complete.

Average number of Hooded Plover adults per sighting Hooded Plovers were observed at 17 different locations in NSW with 39 adults sighted altogether, making an average of 2.29 adult individuals per observation. In Victoria, 183 observations of Hooded Plovers were made with 382 adults sighted, making an average of 2.09 adult individuals per observation. Furthermore, in South Australia, 285 observations of Hooded Plovers were made with 593 adults sighted, there being 2.08 adult individuals sighted on average. These average group sizes of close to two are expected because November is the middle of the breeding season and Hooded Plovers should be holding territories as pairs, rather than occurring in flocks.

Nesting records Table three presents the number of pairs recorded as nesting for each state and zone during the November 2008 count. As the main purpose of the count was to record numbers of Hooded Plovers rather than to record active breeding, this table cannot be interpreted as a complete list of active nests at the time of the count. There would have been variability in the ability of count volunteers at detecting nests/chicks. There were 6 Hooded Plover nests recorded in NSW, 42 in Victoria and 30 in South Australia. 18 Pied Oystercatcher nests were recorded in Victoria, 31 in South Australia and none in NSW. There were only 4 Sooty Oystercatcher nests recorded in all states and zones and they were both in Victoria. Table three shows the zone in which the nests were sighted and how many eggs, if any, were present.

Table three: Number of pairs recorded as nesting and the number of eggs/chicks sighted, according to zone and state. Zone Hooded Plover Pied Oystercatcher Sooty Oystercatcher NSW Nesting Egg/ Nesting Egg/ Nesting Egg/ reports chicks reports chicks reports chicks Bateman’s Bay 3 6/2 Jervis bay 3 3/5 TOTAL 6 9/7 VIC 1. NSW border to 1 3 1/0 Point Hicks 2. Point Hicks to Marlo 3 1/0 10 10/3 3. 90 Mile Beach 0 2 5. Wilsons Promontory 2 0/5 6. Cape Liptrap to San 3 3/1 Remo 7. Venus Bay 0 8. Phillip Island 6 2/0 2 2/0 3 2 9. Mornington 10 6/3 1 0 Peninsula 10. Queenscliffe to 1 0/2 Lorne 11. Lorne to 0 Peterborough 12. Peterborough to 2 Warrnambool 13. Warrnambool to 14 3/3 1 2/0 Cape Bridgewater 14. Discovery Bay TOTAL 42 15/14 18 15/3 4 2 SA SE SA 5 6/0 Coorong 1 0/5 3 0/4 Kangaroo Island 10 16/0 6 2/0 Fleurieu Peninsula 4 4/4 Yorke Peninsula 3 0/2 Eyre Peninsula 7 3/0 22 9/14 TOTAL 30 29/11 31 11/18 0 0 Acknowledgements We would like to thank all of our Regional Organisers, who make it possible for us to carry out such a far reaching and coordinated bird survey, and the many volunteers who walked for miles regardless of weather conditions and made the November 2008 count the best ever yet. Thanks also to all the agency staff that were able to carry out the count and send through the data sheets despite being stretched to the limits due to fires. A special thanks to David Nicholls, who spent many hours working on the database and GIS component of this project.

This count was made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (a grant to Birds Australia hosted by Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority), the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country (Community Coastcare grant to Birds Australia), and funding from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board.

Figure two: Hooded Plover chick (Source: Glenn Ehmke)

Appendices These appendices comprise of two map types. The first (a) displays the distribution of beach nesting birds, including the Hooded Plover, Pied Oystercatcher and the Sooty Oystercatcher. The second map (b) displays the threat score recorded at each location where a beach nesting bird was recorded. A series of threats were collected by the volunteer and each threat category is given a rank based on its perceived disturbance to the Hooded Plover (Table 4).

Table four: The rank given to each threat collected at the bird sighting locations. Threat Rank Vehicle 5 Horse/stock 5 Dog off leash 4 Dune use 4 People 3 Dog on leash/prints 3 Cat/foxes 3 Ravens 2 Other birds 1

Appendix 1 1a)

A total of 19 Hooded Plovers were recorded at nine locations between Jervis Bay and . No threat data were recorded within this survey zone. 2a)

2b)

During the Bateman’s Bay surveys, Hooded Plovers were sparsely recorded between Narooma and Wonboyn Lake south of Green Cape. Most sites recorded low to medium threat scores, with the Wallage Lake site recording the highest threat score of 9.

Appendix 2 1a) 1b)

The far east coast of Victoria, from the NSW border to Point Hicks, displays a spread of Hooded Plovers predominately occurring near estuaries. Threats at these sites, where assessed, are considered low, with most of this survey zone occurring within National Park. The highest threat score (13) was recorded at Quarry Beach – Mallacoota. 2a)

2b)

Twenty-two Hooded Plovers were recorded between Point Hicks and Marlo. A large number of these sites recorded low or no threats present, the highest threat score (13) was recorded at Yerrung River access steps. 3a)

3b)

Four adult Hooded Plovers were recorded during the surveys, at Lake Bunga and Ninety mile beach, near Lakes Entrance. The sites in this zone generally displayed high threat levels, with the Lake Bunga Hooded Plover site recording a very high threat score of 20. The Ninety mile beach Hooded Plover site recorded a medium threat score of 6. 4a)

4b)

Hooded Plovers were predominately recorded along the west coast of Wilsons Promontory, with only two records occurring along Five Mile Beach on the east coast during this survey. The File Mile Beach sites recorded the highest threat scores, while sites on the west coast, recorded low or medium scores. 5a)

5b)

Fifteen Hooded Plovers were recorded in the Cape Liptrap to Venus Bay survey zone. While there were a number of sites where threat data were not collected, a very high score was recorded near beach access Number 4, near the township of Venus Bay. Sites further south recorded low threat scores. 6a)

6b)

In the Inverloch to San Remo survey area Hooded Plovers are predominately recorded between Kilcunda and Cape Paterson, with the majority of these sites recording low threat scores. High threat scores were however recorded at sites near Powlett River, Undertow Bay, ‘The Oaks’ and Point Norman in Inverloch 7a)

7b)

Hooded Plovers were mostly sighted on the southern and the western beaches of Phillip Island with most recording low- medium threat scores. Of the fives sites which displayed high threat scores, two - located between Smiths Beach and Cape Woolamai - recorded Hooded Plovers.

8a)

8b)

The Mornington Peninsula recorded 62 Hooded Plovers during these surveys. Sites occurring within Point Nepean National Park experienced low threats, while the eastern end and middle of the Mornington Peninsula National Park experienced high threat levels. Montforts Beach recorded the highest threat score (14). 9a)

9b)

The survey zone between Queenscliff and Lorne has two main areas of Hooded Plover occurrence, located around Breamlea and Point RoadKnight. One quarter of sites in this zone recorded high levels of threats, while one site (Point Roadknight) displayed a very high threat level of 14. 10a)

10b)

Hooded Plovers were recorded sparsely along this section of the coast during the survey, which likely reflects the nature of the habitat – there being a predominance of cliff-backed coastline. One site at Apollo Bay recorded a very high threat score of 14 while the remainder of the sites recorded low-medium threat scores. In total there were 25 Hooded Plovers sighted. 11a)

11b)

A total of 32 adult Hooded Plovers were recorded between Peterborough and Warrnambool. Three sites recorded high threat scores, and one site near the Hopkins River estuary recorded a very high score of 14. However, no threat data were recorded at a number of sites located close to Warrnambool.

12a)

12b)

The Warrnambool to Cape Bridgewater survey zone recorded the highest number of Hooded Plovers, 66 (however survey effort and area are not the same between zones). The section between Port Fairy and was not surveyed during the November 2008 count. The bulk of sites recorded low–medium threat scores however between Narrawong and Portland there were three high scores and a very high score of 14 at Narrawong. 13a)

13b)

The Discovery Bay survey zone, between Cape Bridgewater and the South Australian border, recorded a large number of Pied Oystercatchers and a total of 15 Hooded Plovers. Threat levels within this zone were all low, with the exception of one medium threat site and one site, near Nelson, with a high threat level. The extensive number of low threat level sites occurring within the National Park is similar to other National Parks in the state, particularly those further from .

Appendix 3 – South Australia Australia – Appendix 3 South 1a) 1b)

Within the South East survey zone of South Australia, the area where Hooded Plover threats were the highest occurred between Port Macdonnell and the Victorian Border. In particular Piccaninnie Ponds Beach (15-20), Pick Swamp Beach (18), Brown Bay (18), Riddock Bay (15-17) and Green Point (13). Incomplete threat data was collected for a large section of this coastline, making sites incomparable. This highlights the importance of collecting data using consistent methodology and official data sheets.

2a)

2b)

A total of 46 adult Hooded Plovers were recorded in the Coorong survey zone. Incomplete threat data was collected at all but four bird sighting locations within the Coorong survey zone. These locations were located in the northern section of zone and displayed only low level threat scores (<6). 3a)

3b)

Of the 35 bird sighting locations on the Fleurieu Peninsula survey zone, two displayed very high threat scores, Northern Normanville Beach (19) and Watsons Gap (14), east of Victor Harbour. A number of other sights displayed high threat scores, such as those surrounding Victor Harbor and Normanville. Sightings along the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula and those north of Port Willunga, recorded low threat levels. 4a)

4b)

Almost 500 beach nesting birds were recorded on Kangaroo Island during the 2008 surveys, with complete threat data being collected for the majority of sightings. Highest threats were recorded in the north east section of the island, which not surprisingly, is also the most populated section of the island. The most threatened areas occurred within the Nepean Bay – Barclay Pt survey area near Penneshaw, Pt Marsden and Emu Bay. 5a)

5b)

The majority of bird sighting locations within the Yorke Peninsula survey zone display low threat scores. Locations with very high threat scores were recorded predominately in the north section of the survey zone (e.g. Point Germein: 14 -19), with the exception of sites further south near Daly head (16) and Point Turton (25). 6a)

6b)

There was a great range of threat scores recorded at bird sighting locations in the Eyre Peninsula survey zone. The highest threat scores were recorded at the Thuruna (22) and Gunyah Beach (16-19) sites. As expected the locations with higher threat scores were located close to townships, while locations within Lincoln National Park recorded low threat scores. Interestingly, bird sighting locations within the Coffin Bay National Park display mainly high and medium levels threats.