Home/Biodiversity/Hooded Plover Project

Hooded Plover Project

The Hooded Plover Project aimed to increase the breeding success of hooded plover populations in northern Tasmania and prevent further decline of these populations at sites where management actions have been implemented, compared with baseline data. The project came to an end in June 2023.

blanche beach 2020_Volunteers_700x525_web.jpg

Volunteers installing protective fencing around a hooded plover nest site at Blanche Beach. Bird Life Australia research has shown that protective fencing improves nesting success of hooded plover.

Focus

The project aimed to establish baseline data on hooded plover breeding population size and distribution, with a focus on Flinders Island and the east coast of Tasmania, to support the planning of future on-ground actions. Safeguarding nesting sites by installing protective fencing in areas known to be vulnerable to human disturbance, engaging with the community to increase awareness of these vulnerable birds and managing coastal weeds in known breeding areas improved nesting habitat and breeding attempts.

Value

Hooded plover are a small, beach-nesting bird with a remaining estimated population size of only 3,000 individuals in the wild. There has been a continuous decline in their habitat, as well as in the number of mature hooded plover (eastern) individuals, particularly of mainland Australian populations.

Tasmania is believed to be home to approximately half of the remaining population of hooded plover (eastern), with approximately 20% of known individuals occurring in north-eastern Tasmania and up to half of these occurring in the Furneaux Islands.

Key feeding and nesting habitat consist mainly of ocean beaches backed by dunes, however, hooded plover also feed in saltmarshes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and mudflats. Nesting occurs predominantly on flat sandy beaches above the high tide mark, or sparsely vegetated dunes. Marine debris, invasive weeds, rising sea levels, and extreme weather threaten this nesting habitat – however, the larger threat to the nests is disturbance or destruction by people, dogs, stock, and vehicles on the beach.

Research conducted by Birdlife Australia has shown that installing protective fencing around nest sites of hooded plovers is effective in mitigating the risk of disturbance or destruction by human activities on beaches. This protection has been observed to improve the nesting success of those areas that are protected, resulting in more chicks successfully fledging.

Hooded plovers have distinctive black and red markings as adults. Image: Kim Wormald lirralirra.com

Camouflaged juvenile hooded plovers. Image: Kim Wormald lirralirra.com

'Hooded plover can be very hard to spot – especially chicks and fledglings! Keeping off the dry sand to avoid disturbing these vulnerable birds is crucial throughout the breeding season (September – April).'

Achievements

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Furneaux Landcare Group - Case Study 1

The northeast coast of Tasmania is one of the last strongholds for eastern hooded plovers. Flinders Island in particular has been identified as an important conservation area based on current counts of the species and lower level of threats (Woehler, pers comm).

Shorebird conservation supporters Katriona Hopkins and Mark Alexander from the Furneaux Landcare group have been involved with NRM North’s Hooded Plover Project since its inception in 2018. Their local knowledge has been invaluable in the coordination of three biennial population counts of hooded plovers and other shorebird species, as well as documenting and mapping threats such as weeds and vehicle access on beaches.

“Everyone involved in shorebird surveying has learnt a lot about hoodies, redcaps, visiting migrant shorebirds, beach bird habitat, and their behaviour. It’s been great to compare the population of shorebirds on Flinders Island to numbers on the mainland and Tasmania,” said Ms Hopkins.

While those involved in population counts have gained a greater knowledge of shorebirds, Ms Hopkins said additional benefits include educating the next generation.

“The population counts are a great way to collect valuable data regarding shorebird population and distribution on Flinders Island … volunteers are also able to communicate species’ information via classroom activities (mainly on truwana / Cape Barren Island) and with Junior Landcarers involved in activities at Flinders Island District High School,” said Ms Hopkins.

Katriona Hopkins and Mark Alexander taking a break on a Flinders Island beach

“We were delighted to discover well-distributed, healthy shorebirds on our island beaches; however, wild weather was the most significant threat observed,” said Ms Hopkins.

Nest warden volunteer, Nat Walter, wearing her official volunteer t-shirt at the 2021/22 end-of-season de-brief.

Volunteer Nest Warden - Case Study 2

NRM North has worked with the local community to establish a network of volunteer nest wardens to support the conservation of this threatened species. The wardens provide crucial breeding season monitoring data, beach signage and temporary nest fencing to help reduce human disturbance at priority nesting sites on the east coast of Tasmania.

Nat Walter has been a volunteer warden with the program for four years, and is one of five wardens based near St Helens, in Tasmania’s northeast.

“Having been involved since the beginning [of the program] I feel I have contributed to the data about hooded plovers in the area, particularly Blanche Beach that I cover. Hopefully, by providing fencing and signage in these areas it has contributed to successful breeding of the hooded plovers,” said Ms Walter.

There are also benefits to being a volunteer in the program, with Ms. Walter saying her observation skills and knowledge of seabirds have improved.

“I’ve also learnt how important it is to keep dogs off beaches and keep the beaches clean from fishing line and plastic. Information and education on these topics are so important for the community,” said Ms. Walter.

The work is not without its challenges, with wet weather including storms and floods impacting observation days. The shorebirds can also be difficult to spot, particularly chicks and fledglings, which only reinforces key messages to the community, who may not be aware that these tiny, well-camouflaged birds are trying to raise families on our beaches.

“It is well worth doing - it increases awareness and creates a feeling of pride when there is success,” said Ms Walter.

Get involved

There are still plenty of ways that you can help to protect and enhance hooded plover populations in north-eastern Tasmania!

Volunteer and Follow the golden rules

The volunteer nest warden program is continuing through the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. If you’re based on the northeast coast of Tasmania, you can join them and help to monitor and protect hooded plover nests.
Landcare groups in northeast Tasmania and Flinders Island are always on the lookout for volunteers to take part in community weed management weekends and working bees. Email us at admin@nrmnorth.org.au for information on volunteering or join your local Landcare group.

Golden rules:

Walk, run, and relax on the harder sand below the high-tide mark – stay off the dry sand where hooded plovers are more likely to be nesting.
Keep dogs on a leash to prevent them from disturbing or crushing nests underfoot in the dry sand.
Keep vehicles off the beach – it’s almost impossible to spot a hooded plover egg while walking on the beach, and even harder from a vehicle! The safest option is to keep vehicles off the beach during the crucial breeding season.

Partners

This project is supported by NRM North, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program. It is delivered in partnership with Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service and Birdlife Australia.