Signage, fencing and beach monitoring are paying off in the effort to save Australia’s most vulnerable beach-nesting bird.

Two hooded plover chicks have successfully grown up and fledged at Carrickalinga Beach – for the first time in seven years.

Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu, Green Adelaide, BirdLife Australia, local councils and a dedicated team of more than 80 volunteers work along the Adelaide metropolitan and Fleurieu coastlines through the summer.

They install temporary fencing at nesting sites, raise awareness of beachgoers and monitor the progress of nesting pairs and their chicks.

From the moment the parent birds decide where to nest and lay eggs, they are in constant threat from foxes and off leash dogs, human disturbance, vehicles on beaches, rubbish and even high tides.

Life is tough on the beach so reaching the age of fledging – when the chicks are able to fly at around five weeks old – is a celebration.

These two fledglings at Carrickalinga are part of the ten chicks that successfully made it to fledging age across metropolitan Adelaide and Fleurieu beaches this spring.

Caroline Taylor is Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu Coast Marine Project Officer.

She is optimistic that the birds may have cracked the Carrickalinga code and may even be breeding earlier to compensate for spring/summer storm surges.

“We’ve lost so many hoodie nests and chicks from Carrickalinga Beach in recent years. 

“The species face many threats including pest animals, human activity, including cars on beaches and dogs off-lead, and high tides as a result of storm surges.

“We saw the earliest start to the breeding season this year, meaning chicks have had time to grow and fledge before the typical storm surges we experience in late spring/early summer. 

"This has no doubt put them in good stead this year. Whether it was a deliberate strategy from the hoodies, we can’t say for sure, but it’s a great

outcome.

“Even when the hoodies do get it right, their chances of survival are greatly increased through the dedication of the hooded plover volunteers who monitor the birds and their threats along our coast, they’re amazing,” Caroline says.

Green Adelaide Team Leader Coast and Seas Tony Flaherty has commended the volunteers and partners in the way they have collaborated towards the positive result.

“It’s a fantastic model, the way that our neighbouring landscape boards, councils, volunteers and the BirdLife Australia team are all working in sync for the same purpose. 

“While the beaches sit in different ‘regions’, we care for the birds as one population and this approach is helping us fund and resource the program really efficiently.

“We also thank beach-users for their care and respect around nesting sites, by following signage on the beach– staying away from fenced nesting areas, walking at the waterline, and ensuring dogs are on leads. 

Learn more about hooded plovers in the region at the Landscape SA website.