The City have identified four key objectives to direct management actions.
Key objectives
- Raise awareness about Hooded Plovers
- Apply a collaborative strategic approach towards Hooded Plover breeding protection
- Support Birdlife Australia staff and volunteers
- Manage threats to Hooded Plover breeding efforts
With a goal to have an annual breeding success at least 0.4 - 0.5 fledglings per breeding pair.
Further information
- Hooded Plover - Birdlife Australia
- A practical guide for managing beach - nesting birds in Australia - Birdlife Australia (2008)
- Flora and fauna guarantee action statement #9 Hooded Plover - Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- Enviroment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) - Australian Government
Objective 1 - Raise awareness about the Hooded Plover
Abbreviations: BirdLife Australia Volunteers (BAV) City of Greater Geelong (The City) BirdLife Australia (BA)
1.1 Raise awareness through informative, consistent signage
| 1.1.1 | Manage temporary signage at nesting sites in accordance with BirdLife Australia Beach Nesting Bird Guidelines. | BAV The City | Once nest site has been established and for its duration. | Appropriate signage at 100% of nests for the level of beach use. |
| 1.1.2 | Maintain permanent signage. | The City | All year round. | 100% to be maintained. |
| 1.2 Run broad public educational programs | ||||
| 1.2.1 | Education activities. | The City BA | As required, but mostly December – January (peak holiday period). | At least two per season. |
| 1.2.2 | Advertising campaign. | The City | October – March | Newspaper advertisements – three to six per season. External advertising (e.g. bus) Advertise in City News. Social media – five posts per season. |
| 1.2.3 | Wardening of nesting sites at high threat locations. | BAV | Variable – chick dependent. | Supervise nests in high threat locations between 6.00am and dusk. |
| 1.3 Run internal training and educational programs | ||||
| 1.3.1 | Local laws training | BA The City | Pre patrol (Oct/Nov) | One per year, open to all municipalities. |
| 1.3.2 | Increase internal awareness of staff in other areas of the City. | The City | All year | Two proactive stories per year in internal publications and staff news. Targeted communication via email and opportunistic communications throughout the year. |
| 1.3.3 | Promote program to senior management and Council. | The City | All year | Annual report on program and maintain regular communications. |
| 1.4 Monitor the effectiveness of training and communication programs | ||||
| 1.4.1 | Undertake annual survey of beach users. | The City | Start and end of the breeding season. | Understand beach users knowledge of hooded plovers breeding and how it changes over time. |
Snapshot - getting the message out there
Clear, consistent and engaging materials, resources and education including:
- Temporary signage at established nest sites.
- Directional signage each season, especially in relation to dog controls.
- Conducting training sessions to educate Local Laws officers about species, threats and actions.
- Seasonal advertising and media campaigns.
- Beach patrols during breeding season to help educate beach goers.
- Supporting volunteer wardens during breeding season to help educate beach goers.
- Community-based events educating beach users, new residents, holiday-makers and surf schools.
Objective 2 - Apply a collaborative strategic approach towards Hooded Plover breeding protection
Abbreviations: City of Greater Geelong (The City) BirdLife Australia (BA)
2.1 Working together with external agencies
| 2.1.1 | Continue the Bellarine Hooded Plover Working Group as the planning mechanism for local hooded plover management. | The City | All year round | Two meetings per season. Enough communication to enable collaborative integrated actions and review of yearly results. |
| 2.1.2 | City officers to enter information collected during site visits into BirdLife Australia’s ‘My Beach Bird’ data portal. | The City | During breeding season | Data entered after each site visit. |
| 2.1.3 | In collaboration with partners, undertake external liaison and communication with local agencies and groups including Bancoora Surf Life Saving Club, Victorian Hang Gliders and Paragliders Association. | The City | All year round | All relevant agencies and groups communicated with each year. |
| 2.2 Working together with internal Departments | ||||
| 2.2.1 | Effective internal communication with other departments – marketing, events, local laws, planning and so on. | The City | All year round | Regular communication with Local Laws. Weekly contact during the breeding season. Keep other departments up to date with program, threats and achievements. |
| 2.2.2 | Ensure hooded plovers are protected during beach events through the inclusion of threat mitigation protocol in permit conditions. | The City | All year round | All events permitted within the vicinity of breeding areas follow threat mitigation protocol. |
| 2.2.3 | Develop and improve methods to enhance beach user awareness of dog controls on local beaches. | The City | All year round | Effective ways of notifying beach users identified and implemented by 2019 breeding season. |
| 2.2.4 | Investigate planning control options with strategic planning team to ensure impact of increasing beach use and development on breeding is minimised. | The City | June 2019 | Planning controls in place that prevent coastal development detrimental to Hoodie survival. |
| 2.2.5 | Develop coastal action plan with regional coastal board. | The City | July 2020 | Coastal Action Plan in place that prevents development detrimental to survival and supports action to protect habitat. |
| 2.3 Annual review of the the City’s hooded plover program | ||||
| 2.3.1 | Conduct annual review of Hooded Plover Action Plan and ensure program accords with BirdLife Australia's best practice hooded plover management advice and guidelines. | The City BA | End of yearly breeding season | An effective conservation program that continually improves. |
Snapshot - a working group combining knowledge, resources and local action
The Bellarine Hooded Plover Working Group aims to develop a coordinated strategic approach toward hooded plover management including communications, events, activities, threat mitigation works, breeding site management and program review.
The working group includes representatives from:
- Barwon Coast Committee of Management
- Borough of Queenscliffe
- Parks Victoria
- Barwon Water
- Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine and Breamlea
- BirdLife Australia
- City of Greater Geelong
Objective 3 - Support Birdlife Australia staff and volunteers
Abbreviations: City of Greater Geelong (The City), BirdLife Australia (BA), BirdLife Australia Volunteers (BAV)
3.1 Provide support to the Friends of the Hooded Plover (Bellarine ) Volunteers
| 3.1.1 | Supply of signage, fencing materials, chick shelters. | The City | All year round | For all nesting sites on City managed beaches. |
| 3.1.2 | Training to assist volunteers in identifying presence of pest animals (foxes and cats) in the vicinity of breeding areas. | The City | Every second year prior to breeding season. | All volunteers have access to pest animal training. |
| 3.1.3 | Assist the local BA Friends of the Hooded Plover groups with volunteer recruitment. | The City | All year round | Promote groups as opportunities arise - for example when presenting to community and students. |
| 3.1.4 | Seek and support funding opportunities to further advance hooded plover protection. | The City BA BAV | All year round | All grant opportunities identified and support provided for applications. |
| 3.2 Maintain a close working relationship with BirdLife Australia | ||||
| 3.2.1 | Work closely with BirdLife Australia staff to maintain best practice hooded plover management. | The City | All year round | Continue delivering best practice hooded plover management. |
Snapshot - combining our resources for the greater good
The City is committed to taking a lead role in engaging and supporting our community partners.
Partnerships work through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and resources.
Our role includes:
- Ensuring materials and resources are supplied and stored locally, with access for volunteers to erect temporary fencing and chick shelters, as needed.
- Supporting BirdLife Australia’s volunteer wardens in the field when required.
- Consulting regularly with BirdLife Australia to remain current on knowledge, data, new approaches and opportunities.
Objective 4 - Manage Hooded Plover breeding sites to improve fledgling numbers
Abbreviations: BirdLife Australia Volunteers (BAV) City of Greater Geelong (The City) BirdLife Australia (BA)
4.1 Reduce impacts from beach users and off leash dogs
| 4.1.1 | Locate nests and ensure beach users are aware of them. | BAV The City | Late August to April | 100% of nests found and the appropriate signage and fencing strategy implemented. |
| 4.1.2 | Undertake wardening of chicks at high threat beaches. | BAV | Varies – chick dependant. | Nests in high threat locations are wardened between 6.00am and dusk. |
| 4.1.3 | Local Laws Officers and Environmental Ranger to undertake beach patrols targeting Hoodie breeding areas. | The City | Varies – often starting late December – February/March. | At least two per week (including weekends) during breeding season. Ensure patrols are undertaken during peak visitor times targeting active breeding sites. |
| 4.1.4 | Ensure beach events, beach businesses, surf schools and other activities do not impact on breeding success of hooded plovers. | The City Event organisers | Late August – late April (within breeding season). | All activities implement hooded plover Protection Protocols and/or Site Environmental Management Plans (SEMPs). |
| 4.1.5 | Do not allow contractors or sub- contractors to work on Hoodie beaches during breeding season. | The City Contractors | Works should be done April to September (outside breeding season). | No disturbance of breeding sites from contracted works. |
| 4.1.6 | Maintain a policy of no horses on City beaches or dunes. | The City | All year round | No horses using beaches. |
| 4.1.7 | Maintain a “No vehicle” policy on beaches, except for emergency services and maintenance purposes. Adhere to the City’s strict Standard Operation Procedure for driving on beaches. | The City Contractors | During hooded plover breeding season. | No vehicles on beaches unless required for emergency or management. |
| 4.1.8 | Provide the Victorian Hang Gliders and Paragliding Association with updated information on hooded plover breeding sites. | The City | All year round and when new nesting locations are discovered. | No disturbance of hooded plover breeding sites from hang gliding or paragliding. |
| 4.1.9 | Using science based data to inform strategic planning decisions, investigate the feasibility of establishing ‘Shorebird Protection Zones’ to better protect significant nesting/flocking sites from off leash dogs and other human impacts. | The City BA | By 2021 | Complete investigation and implement recommendations. |
| 4.2 Raise beach user awareness of dog regulations through informative, consistent signage | ||||
| 4.2.1 | Erect temporary dog regulation signage at breeding sites. | BAV The City | Once nest site has been established | All dog owners are aware of seasonal dog controls. |
| 4.2.2 | Erect temporary signage at car parks to fore warn beach users that hooded plovers are breeding on this beach. | The City | Once nest site has been established | Reduce number of users on breeding beaches during breeding season and increase awareness. |
| 4.2.3 | Maintain or replace any permanent dog regulation signage. | The City | All year round | All beaches have obvious, clear and correct dog signage. |
| 4.2.4 | Create and distribute educational material for dog owners such as the ‘Dogs on Beaches’ guide. | The City | Update prior to breeding season (August) | Beach users aware of dog regulations on beaches. |
| 4.2.5 | Install signage on beach access tracks, at change of regulation sites and other locations as required. | The City | 2020 and as required | Beach users aware of dog regulations and where changes in regulations occur. |
| 4.2.6 | Investigate the feasibility of installing dog regulation zone maps at beach access points. | The City | 2019 | Beach users informed of dog regulation zones prior to accessing beach. |
| 4.3 Reduce predation by foxes | ||||
| 4.3.1 | Implement an integrated fox control program in coordination with other management agencies. | The City Contractors Adjoining agencies | August to April. | No fox predation of hooded plovers. |
| 4.3.2 | Monitor fox presence at hooded plover breeding sites. | BAV | August to April. | All fox visits to breeding sites identified. |
| 4.3.3 | Targeted fox control around individual breeding sites. | The City Contractors | As needed | No predation of eggs or chicks at active breeding sites. |
| 4.4 Reduce predation by cats | ||||
| 4.4.1 | Monitor cat presence at hooded plover breeding sites. | BAV | August - April | Identify all breeding sites being visited by cats. |
| 4.4.2 | Instigate a cat trapping program. | The City | As needed | No predation of eggs and chicks at active breeding sites. |
| 4.5 Monitor predation by native predators | ||||
| 4.5.1 | Monitor activity of native predators at breeding sites and follow BA advice and protocols to minimise impacts. | BAV The City | August - April | All impacts of native predators at breeding sites recorded. |
| 4.6 Reduce weed threats to breeding habitat | ||||
| 4.6.1 | Monitor weed species distribution and identify potential threats to hooded plover breeding success. | The City | All year round | All weed threats to hooded plover habitat identified. |
| 4.6.2 | Control weed infestations threatening known breeding sites including: Sea Wheat-grass (Thinopyrum junceiforme), Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria) and Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias) | The City Contractors | April - August | Reduce the impact of weeds on hooded plover habitat. |
Snapshot - walking the talk
Having a positive impact on the number of chicks that successfully fledge demands the implementation of an array of measures, delivered at critical times by a diversity of people and agencies.
It’s about walking the talk, getting out in the field and working together to make the numbers count. Refer to BirdLife Australia’s - A Practical Guide for Managing Beach-nesting Birds in Australia (2008) for details of protection measures (see further Information).
Page last updated: