1 #ISTC20 Low reproductive success threatens long-term viability of many #shorebird populations. Hooded Plovers (aka hoodies) are highly threatened #BeachNestingBirds along AUS southern coast and impacted by threats like human disturbance and introduced & superabundant predators.
2 #ISTC20 Threats’ impact on egg & chick survival is poorly understood. We set up remote-sensing cameras on 81 Hoodie clutches along the Victorian coast to confirm nest fate, and radio-tagged 27 Hoodie chicks (from 27 broods) to monitor survival and determine causes of mortality.
3 #ISTC20 Threats' impact on egg and chick survival is poorly understood. We set up remote-sensing cameras on 81 Hoodie clutches to confirm nest fate, and radio-tagged 27 Hoodie chicks (+22 untagged siblings were monitored) to monitor survival and determine causes of mortality.
4 #ISTC20 There was no difference in survival rate between tagged (5 fledglings) and untagged (6 fledglings) chicks. Fate was robustly determined for 3 tagged chicks – 1 killed by a dog and deliberately hidden by a human, and 2 suffered avian attack.
5 #ISTC20 Remote cameras provided valuable info about egg fate and Aus magpie was confirmed as a new predator. With help from our #CitizenScientists, @birdlifeoz’s Beach-nesting Birds Team keeps using cameras at sites where there is ongoing failure to inform adaptive #management.
6 #ISTC20 This was the first successful use of radio transmitters on Hooded Plovers. Chick fate is still a major knowledge gap and barrier to species recovery. Although radio transmitters increased confidence in the information collected, new alternatives are needed. Any ideas?😊
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1 #ISTC20 Monitoring from 1980 onwards revealed a decline in Hooded Plover population along Victorian coast (southern Australia). From 2006, @birdlifeoz runs a broad-scale adaptive management project to improve this declining trajectory by managing threats to breeding birds.
2 #ISTC20 We identified human disturbance and invasive predators as major threats. Our objectives are to ⬆️breeding success to ⬆️population & protect habitat. >500 trained #CitizenScientists monitor breeding Hooded Plover pairs across ~300 sites in Victoria and South Australia.
3 #ISTC20 Taking the Bellarine Pen & Surf Coast as an example, within 12 years of recovery effort, the population has increased from 9 to 22 breeding pairs. Working with land managers & volunteers, we’re protecting 22 breeding sites via on-ground actions, education & regulations.