Protecting the hooded plover

Representatives from organisations that helped with the installation of the hooded plover signs. (picture supplied)

Educational signs designed to inform of the plight of the endangered hooded plover were installed along the coast recently.

The signs, installed on beaches at Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Breamlea, were designed to help locals and visitors recognise what a hooded plover looks like, where they live and how we can look after them.

The hooded plover is classed as vulnerable (population declining) and is a beach nesting bird that nests along the sandy beaches of Ocean Grove and Thireteenth Beach.

From August to April each year the birds attempt to raise their chicks, but struggle due to the impacts from people and dogs.

Chicks typically do not fly until around 35 days after they hatch.

Ocean Grove Coastcare, Birdlife Australia, Barwon Coast, Barwon Water, City of Greater Geelong, Friends of Hooded Plover Breamlea, Friends of Hooded Plover Bellarine and Friends of Buckley Park were all involved with the project, which was launched by Corangamite MP Libby Coker.