Hooded Plover Breeding Season Underway
The Hooded Plover is the most threatened beach-nesting bird in South Australia. Hooded Plovers rely exclusively on ocean beach habitat for laying eggs, incubation, and raising chicks. Chicks are flightless for 35 days before reaching independence.
Breeding pairs establish territories spanning approximately 1km of beach. They will nest at multiple locations during the breeding season, and this territory must have enough food resources, shelter and undisturbed nesting habitat to support survival and successful breeding.
Council works closely with Birdlife Australia throughout the breeding season (typically August - March) to protect Hooded Plover chicks. So far in Victor Harbor, a nest has been identified in Hayborough and a pair look close to nesting at Yilki.
Please help us protect vulnerable Hooded Plover chicks by:
- Adhering to all signage along beaches
- Leashing your dog around nesting sites (dogs off leash are the biggest threat to breeding Hooded Plovers, so it is critical that dogs are leashed near breeding sites)
- Allowing ample space around nesting sites
- Spreading the message to friends, family and community
Your support can make all the difference for a Hooded Plover family along our coastline.
More information about Hooded Plovers
The Hooded Plover Program is part of BirdLife Australia’s national Beach-nesting Birds program. On the Fleurieu and metropolitan coast, it is primarily supported by funding through Green Adelaide with additional support from the Australian Government, Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu - a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel, and the South Australian Government’s Citizen Science Grant. The program is also supported by local councils, the National Parks and Wildlife Service SA and its amazing volunteers.