The Montforts Chick is still alive and looking good. It expected to fledge on the 7 – 8th of January. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

But wait, there’s more. We also have two chicks at St Andrews Beach, access from Moana Court. Two chicks are a few days old and are getting great protection from Parks Victoria. There are also other nests along this beach which are due to hatch soon.

And the really good news is most dog walkers are keeping their dogs on a lead. Over 90% compliant on Sunday morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two 11 day old Hooded Plover chicks at Montforts Beach Blairgowrie, (seen Saturday the 15th December).

It is unlikely they will last too much longer but a plan has been provided to Parks Victoria in relation to signage, (see below). It would be nice if Parks Victoria did something useful.

 

Tempory signage strategy for Montforts Beach

 

The Hooded Plover breeding season has well and truly started and for a change, we had a chick on the Port Phillip Bay side of the Mornington Peninsula. This quiet little beach has limited access by the general public and so a pair of Hooded Plovers successfully established a nest, laid eggs and cared for a chick for nearly 30 days or more . . . . but then, a dog was seen attacking the chick and killing it.

This is quite remarkable considering there is usually a very low chance of observing the death of a Hooded Plover chick, let alone seeing the deceased body but both of these events occurred on Point King beach.

Dogs have a predatory heritage and are designed to kill, which is why dogs are banned in National Parks. But not Parks Victoria. Whilst this beach is not a Parks Victoria reserve, Parks Victoria do allow dogs in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

Well done Bill Jackson (CEO of Parks Victoria) for allowing dogs in a National Park so they can kill Hooded Plover chicks.