The Hooded Plover's breeding season has commenced

Please take care when using our beaches

The Hooded Plover's breeding season has commenced - Please ensure dogs are on leash at all times within 50m of identified Hooded Plover breeding areas. Areas are signed and clearly visible.

Hooded Plovers are one of the threatened bird species that call our local Southern Fleurieu beaches and dunes home. The State Government recognises their population as vulnerable. The Hooded Plover is also listed on the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species.

The bird’s breeding season overlaps with the busiest time of the year for beach recreation (spring and summer) and their nests are often disturbed by beach goers, vehicles and dogs. The hooded plovers make simple nests in the sand and lay well camouflaged eggs that are difficult to spot when walking, riding or driving along the beach.

If you walk your dog on the beach, ride your horse or drive a 4WD in designated areas, please respect protected areas. Please restrain your dogs on beaches where leashes are compulsory. The disturbance of nests can lead to eggs failing to hatch or the starvation of chicks when adult birds are absent for long periods of time.

For more information about Hooded Plovers on the Fleurieu Peninsula, click here.