It has been a few weeks since the last update on Hooded Plover chicks in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

One of the St Andrews Beach chicks died but fortunately the other fledged. As the breeding season gets closer to ending, there is a high likelihood more chicks will fledge this season than the last.

There is also a good chance a chick may fledge at Koonya Beach, Blairgowrie. There are a number of active volunteers who monitor birds on this beach and I’m sure we all agree, it would be great if they were rewarded with a brand new fully grown Hooded Plover. Keep your fingers crossed.

There are still some birds on nests which means more chicks are possible.

Below is a map indicating the location and number of chicks currently in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

The two St Andrews Chicks situated at the end of Moana Court, St Andrews (Mornington Peninsula) are at least 24 days old and looking good.

But there’s more. There are five chicks at Gunnamatta from two nests, there is one chick at Koonya and two chicks nearby the Rye car park.

In all on the Mornington Peninsula, there are currently eleven (11) chicks, (including the Montforts chick that fledged).

Below is a picture of the area where the Moana Court chicks can be found. All being well they could fledge in 10 days, (fingers crossed).

You can never give up on Hooded Plovers.

Despite all the things that could have gone wrong for this little bird at Montforts beach, it still managed to fledge.

Good news for this area of the Mornington Peninsula, considering many “not so good” seasons and confirmation on the resilience of this species.

But there is more. As I type, I’ve been informed by a volunteer on the other side of Port Phillip, (via twitter) that two chicks have fledged at Black Rock, Breamlea. Well done to the Breamlea volunteers.

When chicks fledge, you realise the sacrifice is worth it.

The Montforts chick is still alive and expected to fledge very soon.

It was seen this morning running off to hide amongst the rocks and vegetation.

And the two St Andrews chicks at Moana Court, are also still alive. This morning they were feeding outside the fenced area.

Some good news for Hooded Plovers, the Montforts chick was still alive on the 4th of Jan 2013, (C/o Diane Lewis) and the latest on the St Andrews chicks: they were also with us on the 2nd of Jan 2013 (C/o Parks Victoria).

Unfortunately this blog was unable to load great pictures of the Montforts chick unless we agreed to: not have any negative comments about Parks Victoria.  That was difficult because Parks Victoria virtually ignored the Montforts chicks the moment they hatched.

For the first 11 days of their feeble existence after hatching from an egg smaller than a 20 cent coin, Parks Victoria could not put a laminated A4 sign on a post in a car park, let alone further along the track to the beach or actually on the beach.  The chicks were on their own in a National Park dealing with dogs off lead. No, this is not a third world nation, it’s Australia!

In light of the restriction using photographs of the chick at Montforts, I have drawn a quick sketch of how the chick should appear at < 35 days compared to an adult. All being well this little chick and its parents can celebrate a good 2013.

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.

During the 2011 – 2012 Hooded Plover breeding season in the Mornington Peninsula National Park  98%  of breeding attempts failed. One of the reasons for this poor result was disturbance to chicks caused by dogs allowed onto beaches where Hooded Plovers nest.

To help rectify this anomaly of allowing domestic animals in a National Park, Parks Victoria are seeking submissions from the public on a new Hooded Plover strategy for the Mornington Peninsula National Park. One aspect of this strategy is banning dogs from beaches in the National Park.

Below is the link that will take you to the Parks Victoria web site where there is more information on the strategy and instructions to provide a submission.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/mornington-peninsula-national-park/plans-and-projects/dog-walking-review

Attached is a sample letter stating some of the most obvious reasons to support a total ban.

Hooded Plover Submission 1

Please carefully consider the options and lodge a submission to help Hooded Plover chicks survive.

The last Hooded Plover breeding season was one of the worst for many years in the Mornington Peninsula National Park despite Parks Victoria putting in more effort at enforcing “dogs on lead” regulations. Obviously dogs in a National Park does not protect a day old Hooded Plover chick.

If you agree, write to Ryan Smith (minister for Environment)  and tell him:  Level 17, 8 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, VIC