Hooded Plovers have begun nesting and laying eggs around the Bass Coast and they need your help to support a successful breeding season.

These plovers are beach-nesting birds and are a threatened species in Victoria. Their breeding season is over spring and summer. They lay their eggs in shallow nests or ‘scrapes’ in the sand which can be hard to see, as they line them with seaweed and shells. They lay three eggs and the incubation period for them is around 30 days. They forage at all levels of the beach on a variety of foods.

We can help hooded plovers by:

• Keeping your dog on a leash. Getting too close to Hooded Plovers will cause them to leave their nest, leaving the eggs exposed
• Avoiding beaches that are known to be used for breeding
• Obeying signage and barriers put up for the protection of the birds and making sure to give them a wide berth
• Walking close to the water’s edge
• Consider joining a local volunteer group dedicated to helping these birds
• Report any incidents to 1300 BCOAST (226 278)

For more information please visit Bass Coast Shire Council’s website, Birdlife Australia, or call 1300 BCOAST (226 278) to speak to our Coast and Bushland Team.

Photo courtesy of Glenn Ehmke