Community
30 April, 2025
Successful breeding season for Plovers
THE Surf Coast has celebrated a landmark breeding season for the vulnerable hooded plover, with conservation efforts delivering the most successful results in recent history.
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) was pleased to announce 10 chicks which have successfully fledged across the Surf Coast region from August 2024 to March 2025 – the highest number recorded since monitoring began.
This landmark season highlights the power of community collaboration with Friends of the Hooded Plover, the conservation team, Parks Victoria and responsible beachgoers all playing a crucial role in supporting the vulnerable shorebirds.
Key highlights of the 2024/25 hooded plover breeding season include:
A total of 20 chicks recorded across the Surf Coast, dramatically surpassing the previous record of nine chicks set in the 2017/18 season;
Port Campbell National Park’s ongoing conservation efforts have yielded promising results, with two chicks successfully fledged near Peterborough and the Bay of Martyrs, and an additional nest containing two eggs recently identified at the Bay of Martyrs, and
One fledged chick at Newfield Point and a suspected chick at the Curdies Inlet.
“Through collaboration with volunteers, we recorded 20 chicks on the Surf Coast – more than double our previous number,” GORCAPA conservation coordinator Scott Hives said.
“Every person who respected beach signage, controlled their dogs, or took the time to learn about these precious birds has played a role in this conservation success.
“We’re thrilled with these results, and they show that more people understand the importance of working together to protect the hoodies.”
These achievements would not have been possible without the dedication of volunteer wardens who monitored breeding sites, responsible dog owners who followed beach restrictions, beachgoers who respected exclusion zones and visitors who engaged with conservation education.
Parks Victoria and local volunteer teams continue their dedicated monitoring of nesting sites further down the coast, with potential for additional successful fledglings, including an active nest with two eggs at the iconic Twelve Apostles site.
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