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

 

I’m afraid the St Andrews Chick is dead. It will most likely be the last chick for the season in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

The final results for this season will no doubt be released by Parks in the future but my estimate is that over 50 nests containing more than 100 eggs in total produced 3 chicks that fledged. This is not sustainable and is a reflection of the poor park management practices of Parks Victoria.

If you agree with me please write to the Premier at:

Office of the Premier, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3002

I hope you all have a good winter.

Parks Victoria are maintaining the ban on Wardening at St Andrews beach. Parks Victoria have asked me to ensure all volunteers to be aware that Parks Victoria do not support wardening on this beach due to the risk of injury to volunteers and there is no insurance should something happen to any volunteer.

Below is a photograph of the beach where the chick is located, (taken by Glenn Ehmke). As Glenn has demonstrated with his photograph, the rope fence has been very successful at keeping people out of the chicks home. Hopefully the fence will work this weekend.

 

 

Whilst the wardening ban is still in place at St Andrews, this does not mean everyone should stay away. We’re not sure but there may still be two chicks between Moana and the Paradise Drive car park and observations from volunteers are encouraged.

If you visit the chicks and see something wrong, contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or send Malcolm a text on 0403 997 831.

 

There has been an incident at the St Andrews Beach during Hooded Plover warden activities. Please note the message below which was provided by Darren Mitchell of Parks Victoria.

 

“This e-mail is to inform you of the immediate suspension of all Hooded Plover wardening and field related volunteering activities within the Mornington Peninsula National Park. Pending a review of an incident on the 25/02/12, at St Andrews Ocean Beach, all activities are suspended until further notice. Could you please inform all volunteers involved in these activities of this suspension.
Parks Victoria is currently reviewing the situation and will keep you informed.”

Thankfully no volunteers were seriously injured.