Discover the latest ups and downs of the avian world
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Birds Australia has set up “Friends of the Hooded Plover” regional groups along the Victorian coast, at Far West Victoria, Mornington Peninsula, Apollo Bay, Anglesea, Breamlea, Bellarine Peninsula, Bass Coast and Venus Bay. In 2010, the BNB project delivered workshops to many of these groups on monitoring and finding nests. 30 new volunteers have since joined, and these and most of the existing 250 volunteers have been given field training. Nest site management activities include targeting beach users in an education and awareness campaign, physically fencing and signing nest sites, developing signage for beach access points, fencing dune systems, controlling sea spurge, and using nest cameras to identify nest predators to provide advice for predator control. Among the BNB project’s achievements are the coordination and completion of the 2010 biennial count, with more coverage than in any other year. “Results show that we have increased the hoodie population in Victoria, and that it is now closer to 500 birds than 400 as in the 2008 and 2006 counts”, Dr Maguire says. “Last season’s production of 60 fledged chicks is double that of any other season, and shows the project is working.” The Friends of the Hooded Plover groups will continue beyond the life of the project, to ensure the birds have a secure future. “This is already evident. These groups are becoming self-sufficient, and are absolutely amazing, seeking their own grants, coming up with new ideas for community education, and tackling broader coastal issues that go to show hoodies are truly a fantastic indicator of beach health.”