Hooded Plover breeding season has begun, which means we all need to take steps to help protect Australia’s most threatened beach-nesting bird in Onkaparinga when visiting the beach.
The Fleurieu’s first nest for the season was spotted in the Alexandrina council area in late August and others should soon start appearing at Onkaparinga’s regular breeding sites including Moana Beach, Ochre Cove Beach, Maslin Beach, Port Willunga Beach, Snapper Point/Aldinga North, Aldinga Beach, Silver Sands and Port Stanvac.
A pair of Hooded Plovers has also attempted to breed at South Port, near the Onkaparinga River mouth for the first time in over 12 years!
City of Onkaparinga Nature Conservation Project Officer Nikola Manos said it was a timely reminder to take care when visiting the beach from now until April, and to reacquaint yourself with the by-laws that further protect the “Hoodies”.
Council by-laws were updated in 2023, which mean dogs must be on lead within 100 metres of a Hooded Plover dog on-leash zone sign, and vehicles are prohibited within 20 metres of a sign indicating a Hooded Plover breeding site.
“Hooded Plover chicks can’t fly for the first 5 weeks and they – and their nests – are very well camouflaged, making them extremely susceptible to dogs, humans and predators,” Nikola said.
“When the adults are disturbed by humans, dogs and vehicles, their nests and chicks are left without protection and therefore more likely to be taken by predators like Silver Gulls, Little Ravens and Kestrels.
“The chicks and their parents – which take turns sitting on nests – also need space to roam and forage for food on all parts of the beach, including the water’s edge.
“Thankfully, by adhering to all beach signage, leashing your dog around nesting sites, driving slowly below the high tide line (on the wet sand) on Onkaparinga’s vehicle-access beaches and observing the by-laws, you’ll be doing your bit to ensure these beloved birds survive and thrive.”
Once the chicks have fledged (grown big enough to fly), the Hoodies’ chances of survival and escaping from predators are greatly improved. Research shows that we need at least 1 Hooded Plover chick to fledge for every 2 pairs of breeding adults to sustain the population and stop the species from going extinct.
There are only about 70 hooded plovers on the Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula beaches combined, and about 800 birds in total in South Australia.
The line between a successful breeding season and a poor one, however, is a faint one.
There were 18 fledglings on the Fleurieu Peninsula in 2023–24 – including a record 7 in Onkaparinga – but in 2024–25 none of the Fleurieu’s 16 fledglings came from Onkaparinga.
“The losses of Hooded Plover nests and chicks last season in Onkaparinga were due to a mix of dogs off-lead, human disturbance and natural causes, including predators and increased storm surges resulting from climate change,” Nikola said.
“We can’t stop all the threats, but if everyone helps and follows the recommendations during the vulnerable stage of the chick’s lives, then these birds have a much better chance of survival.
“It’s also worth remembering that Hooded Plovers aren’t the only birds nesting along our beaches – there are other species with declining numbers such as our smallest beach-nesting bird, the Red-capped Plover, that could do with our help too.”
It’s also an opportune time to spread Hooded Plover messaging to friends and family. September is home to Biodiversity Month, National Threatened Species Day (7 September), and Plover Appreciation Day (16 September) – the latter coinciding with a BirdLife Australia art competition for children aged 4–13!
The City of Onkaparinga works in partnership with Green Adelaide, BirdLife Australia and volunteers to set up protection zones around Hooded Plover breeding sites each year.
Council staff provides on-ground support to volunteers by dropping off fencing materials and signage for temporary exclusion zones, raising awareness of threatened species in the region and managing natural habitats.
Council rangers patrol local beaches to assist the public to comply with advice on the best ways to help the birds thrive, including through the distribution of a handy flyer aimed at dog owners.
More information
To learn more about Hooded Plovers, visit the Green Adelaide and BirdLife Australia websites.
Head to the council’s Hooded Plovers page to keep up to date with weekly breeding site updates, and the dog exercise and prohibited areas page to ensure you’re doing the right thing when out with your pooch.
The Hoodie Helper group welcomes new volunteers. Please visit the Beach-nesting Birds Hub webpage for more information.
Pictured
Two Hooded Plovers (known as YL and YR) at Port Willunga on 21 August. YL was born at Seacliff in December 2018 and YR was tagged as a 6-week-old juvenile at Blanche Point, Port Willunga/Maslin Beach in January 2024. Photo: Kerri Bartley