The hooded plover’s breeding season has begun.
The endangered bird lays its eggs in a ‘scrape’ on the beach, usually just above the high tide line.
The hoodie nests along Ocean Grove beaches, 13th Beach and Breamlea.
They need space and their eggs are hard to see and easily trodden on, by dogs and humans. Once the eggs hatch the chicks take five weeks to grow big enough to be able to fly.
Beachgoers can help by keeping dogs on leads and steering clear of sand dunes, where the chicks hide.
Their eggs are small (about the size of a 20-cent piece) and very well camouflaged, so they are easily trodden on by accident.
