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Latest News
Close X9 November 2026
Hooded Plover update: three chicks thriving and a new nest
Three chicks thriving and a new nest
5 November 2026
Three Hooded Plover chicks hatch at Barwon Bluff South
Three chicks have hatched at Barwon Bluff South
3 November 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
3 November 2026
Final Foreshore Master Plan released
Barwon Coast has launched its new Foreshore Master Plan, setting a shared direction for the management of 22 kilometres of coastline over the next 15 years.
26 October 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
Volunteer
>Register with BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds program.
Volunteer locally with Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine
At Barwon Coast, we’re proud to work alongside local conservation groups to help protect one of Australia’s most vulnerable coastal birds — the Hooded Plover.
Affectionately known as ‘Hoodies’, these small, ground-nesting shorebirds are listed as protected wildlife under both State and Federal legislation. With only an estimated 740 birds left along the entire Victorian coastline (BirdLife Australia, 2022), every effort counts.
Our local stretch of coast is home to 11 resident breeding pairs, found in areas like Point Lonsdale, Collendina, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads (13th Beach), and Breamlea.
Hoodies nest between September and March, laying their eggs directly on the sand — often in high-traffic areas. This makes them especially vulnerable to human disturbance, off-leash dogs, and introduced predators such as foxes and cats.
Hooded Plover protection trial 2026–27
This breeding season, we’re trialling a three-phase approach to protecting Hooded Plovers at selected high-risk nesting locations, including additional temporary dog restrictions.
Together with our community partners, we’re working to protect their habitat and give these special birds the best chance to thrive.
You can make a difference
- Stay close to the water’s edge
- Obey signs and keep clear of fenced areas
- Keep dogs on a lead and out of breeding zones and sand dunes
Help protect the vulnerable birds
You can make a big difference in helping Hooded Plovers survive and thrive along our coast.
Hooded Plover Eggs – Hard to Spot, Easy to Harm
Hooded Plovers lay their eggs in a simple scrape in the sand, usually just above the high tide line on the dune side of the beach. These eggs are extremely well camouflaged and can be nearly impossible to see, making them easy to step on by accident.Each nesting pair typically incubates their eggs for around four weeks — a critical time when any disturbance can cause the adult birds to abandon the nest.Sticking to marked paths and walking below the high tide line can help give these tiny families the best chance of survival.
Hooded Plover Chicks – Small, Fragile, and Vulnerable
Once hatched, Hooded Plover chicks are tiny, flightless, and completely dependent on their surroundings. For the first five weeks, they must feed themselves along the water’s edge until they’re strong enough to fly.
During this time, they are incredibly vulnerable to disturbance from people, off-leash dogs, and predators. Even well-meaning beachgoers can accidentally scare chicks away from the food they need to survive.
When chicks are present on a beach, Barwon Coast will generally temporarily close small sections of beach during breeding season, these are known as Temporary Exclusion Zones.
Declared under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, these fenced areas must not be entered by people, dogs, or horses.
By respecting these zones, you’re helping to ensure wildlife has a safe space to rest, recover, and breed undisturbed. Thank you for doing your part to protect our precious coastal species.
Juvenile Hooded Plovers – Still Learning to Survive
Even after they’ve fledged, juvenile Hooded Plovers remain vulnerable as they continue to learn how to feed, fly, and stay safe along our busy coastline.You can help Barwon Coast protect these young birds by:
– Staying close to the water’s edge when walking on the beach
– Respecting signage and fenced nesting areas
– Keeping dogs on a lead and out of designated breeding zonesEvery small action helps give these special coastal birds the best chance to thrive. Thank you for caring for our coast and its wildlife.
Latest Hoodie Updates
Published on 9 November 2026
Hooded Plover update: three chicks thriving and a new nest
Three chicks thriving and a new nest
Published on 5 November 2026
Three Hooded Plover chicks hatch at Barwon Bluff South
Three chicks have hatched at Barwon Bluff South
Published on 3 November 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
Published on 26 October 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
Published on 15 October 2026
Hooded Plover update – two new nests at Thirteenth Beach
Great news for Hooded Plovers, with two new nests identified at Thirteenth Beach
Published on 7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed.
Published on 26 March 2026
2025-26 Hooded Plover breeding season
A reflection on the 2025–26 Hooded Plover breeding season.
Published on 16 March 2026
Stingray Bay Hooded Plover chick takes flight
The Hooded Plover chick at Stingray Bay has been observed taking short flights along the beach.
Published on 16 February 2026
Hooded Plover update: Breamlea and Ocean Grove
An update on the Hooded Plovers breeding on Barwon Coast-managed land.
Published on 8 February 2026
Hooded Plover nest hatches
We’re pleased to share that there is a Hooded Plover chick at Stingray Bay.
Published on 28 January 2026
Hooded Plover nest update
We’re sad to share that some Hooded Plover nests have not survived recently.
Published on 13 January 2026
Four Hooded Plover nests on the coast
We're excited to share that there are four Hooded Plover nests on the coastline we manage.
Published on 16 December 2025
Hooded Plover chicks thriving and new nests spotted
We\'re excited to share that the Hooded Plover nest in Ocean Grove has hatched.
Published on 13 December 2025
Hoodie nest hatches in Ocean Grove
We're excited to share that the Hooded Plover nest in Ocean Grove has hatched.
Published on 19 November 2025
Hooded Plover update: great news from Barwon Bluff
We're celebrating the two-week milestone for the Hoodie chick on Barwon Bluff.
Published on 12 November 2025
Celebrating the first week of our Hooded Plover chicks
We're celebrating the one-week birthday of our two Hoodie chicks on Barwon Bluff.
Published on 10 November 2025
Hooded plover chicks at the Bluff still thriving
The two Hooded Plover chicks at the Bluff are still doing well.
Published on 6 November 2025
Hooded Plover chicks take their first steps at Barwon Bluff South
We’re thrilled to share a Hooded Plover nest located between Barwon Bluff South and The Corner, 13th Beach, has hatched two chicks.
Published on 16 September 2025
Celebrating Plover Appreciation Day – protecting our Hooded Plovers
Today is Plover Appreciation Day, a chance to recognise these remarkable ground-nesting birds.
Published on 20 June 2025
Hooded Plover Nesting Update
We currently have one active hooded plover nest that is expected to hatch in the coming weeks...
Temporary Exclusions Zones
Hooded Plovers nest on our beaches during the busy summer months, often competing for space with people and pets. To give these vulnerable birds the best chance of survival, Barwon Coast may temporarily close small sections of beach during breeding season — these are known as Temporary Exclusion Zones.
Declared under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, these fenced areas must not be entered by people, dogs, or horses.
By respecting these zones, you’re helping to ensure wildlife has a safe space to rest, recover, and breed undisturbed. Thank you for doing your part to protect our precious coastal species.
💙 Hooded Plover update – Three chicks and a new nest!
Some positive news from our coast today (9 November)!
🐣 Barwon Bluff South: All three chicks are now five days old and were spotted foraging on the intertidal reef this morning.
🥚 Thirteenth Beach at Boings: A new nest has been discovered with three eggs!
How you can help:
💙 Do not enter the closed section of beach between The Bluff Dune South and The Hole beach accesses.
💙 Follow the signed pedestrian detours.
💙 At Thirteenth Beach at Boings, keep dogs on lead and walk close to the waterline.
💙 Follow local signage and give nesting birds and chicks plenty of space.
Thank you for helping give these vulnerable shorebirds the best chance of survival! And a big thank you to Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their ongoing monitoring efforts and for sharing this wonderful video with us!
Find out more, including the beach closure map, on our website news section (link in bio).Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18118997903333198
The magic of the sun rising over this beautiful stretch of coastline will never be taken for granted - at Barwon Coast, we count ourselves lucky to be tasked with caring for the coast. Do you love to catch a sunrise, or a sunset, at the beach? Where are the best vantage points? What about a sunrise swim, like the @sunrise.hunter_ group that meets every morning at Ocean Grove Main Beach all year round?
Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18116099363118368
📣 Did you know you can report an issue via our website?
Whether it`s vandalism to one of the facilities we manage, a maintenance issue or something else that needs fixing, you can let us know using our online reporting form.
Our team will review your report as soon as possible and follow up where required.
💻 Report an issue via our website (link in bio)
Thanks for helping us care for our coast!
P.S. This is an old picOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17912764764576019
💙 Three Hooded Plover chicks have hatched at Barwon Bluff South! 🐣
Three Hooded Plover chicks hatched today (5 November), marking a positive milestone in this year`s breeding season.
To protect the chicks, a temporary beach closure is being established between The Bluff Dune South and The Hole beach accesses for approximately five weeks, until the chicks can fly and are considered self-sufficient.
💙 Please respect the closure and follow local signage and barriers.
💙 Follow the signed pedestrian detour or explore one of our other beautiful local beaches while the chicks grow.
💙 Keep dogs away from the protected area and give the chicks plenty of space.
A big thank you to the Friends of the Hooded Plover – Bellarine volunteers for their ongoing efforts!
Read the full update, including the beach closure map on our news story on our website - link in bioOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18167792071514931
💙 Want to stay up to date with our Hooded Plovers?
We`ve launched a new Hooded Plover email update list to help you stay informed throughout the breeding season!
Sign up to receive updates on:
💙 Where Hooded Plovers are nesting along our coast
💙 When eggs hatch and chicks arrive
💙 Temporary beach closures and protection measures being put in place/removed
💙 Nesting successes and challenges throughout the season
Whether you`re a regular beach walker, dog owner or wildlife enthusiast, these updates will help you plan your beach visits and give our Hooded Plovers the space they need.
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/barwoncoast/hoodie-updatesOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17954573601266618
💙 Hooded Plover nesting update
We currently have one active Hooded Plover nest along our coast, following the unsuccessful outcome of the nest between the Wedge St and Tuckfield St beach accesses.
The remaining nest is at Barwon Bluff South, where the eggs are expected to hatch around 4 November. This means the birds are now in the final stages of nesting.
There is currently one active nest remaining, following the unsuccessful outcome of a nest between the Wedge Street and Tuckfield Street beach entrances in Ocean Grove.
The remaining nest, located at Barwon Bluff South, is in the final stages of nesting; the eggs could hatch any day now. If the eggs hatch successfully, a beach closure (temporary exclusion zone)will be introduced to give the chicks the best chance of survival.
💙 Please follow local signage, keep your distance from nesting areas and keep dogs away from protected sites.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18019117418951402
Have you checked out our final Foreshore Master Plan yet? 🌊
Take a closer look at the Knowledge Map – a beautiful illustration connecting cultural knowledge, Country, community values, and nature.
A huge thank you to Wadawurrung artists Billy-Jay O’Toole (@papul_art) and Alisha Fagan (@warribagurrk), who collaborated with @hatchdesign__ and Barwon Coast to bring this piece to life. 💙
Explore the Plan 👉 https://barwoncoast.com.au/foreshoremasterplan/Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18121160533984700
We`re hiring! 🌿
Looking for your next opportunity? We have four positions available across the Barwon Coast team.
If you`re passionate about our coast and community, we`d love to hear from you!
Explore the roles and apply via our website (link in bio)Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18339269509277475
💙 Trialling a new approach to Hooded Plover protection
The trial will see protection measures increase as the birds move into the late nesting phase and raising chicks. The aim is to give these vulnerable shorebirds the best chance of successfully raising their young, while balancing beach access for everyone.
The aim is to give these vulnerable shorebirds the best chance of successfully raising their young, while balancing beach access for everyone.
You may notice changes to signage, temporary fencing and beach access arrangements as the breeding season progresses.
💙 Every little action helps. Please follow signs, keep your distance from nesting areas and keep dogs away from protected sites.
Find out more about the trial and how you can help protect our Hooded Plovers via the `Recent Projects` section of our website.
Photo by Rod MorrisonOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18126384646675859
🌊 Our coast. Our shared direction.
22 kilometres. 15 years. More than 1,200 voices.
After almost two years of listening, learning and planning, our Foreshore Master Plan is here.
You shared your knowledge. You told us what matters. You gave us feedback on the Draft Plan – and we made lots of changes in response.
Now we have a shared direction for the future of our coast, and it’s time to begin putting it into action.
Thank you to everyone who helped shape the Plan. 💙
Explore the Plan and what happens next via the link in our bio.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18077825972734139
This is Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the land, waters, seas and skies of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, 13th Beach, Black Rock and Breamlea. We honour and say Nyatne to Elders past, present and future whose ancestors, for thousands of years, have cared for this part of Dja (Country). We are committed as an organisation to meaningfully work together with Traditional Owners to make Wadawurrung Culture and Country strong.
© 2026 Barwon Coast. Website by Residency Studios.
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