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Latest News
Close X11 November 2026
Upcoming temporary closure – 13th Beach sand ramp beach access and car park
Expressions of interest are now open for temporary summer food vendor permits across Barwon Coast Caravan Parks from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027.
9 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.
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.
ℹ️ Service disruption – Microsoft outage
Barwon Coast is currently experiencing some system disruptions due to the global Microsoft issue, which may affect our ability to respond to enquiries as quickly as usual.
If your enquiry is urgent, please give us a call on (03) 5254 1118.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. We`ll keep you updated and let you know when we are back to normal.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17929250781430885
A little kindness goes a long way.
This World Kindness Day, we`re encouraging everyone in our coastal communities to show kindness to one another, to our environment and to the people who care for it.
Our Barwon Coast team works hard, and with heart, every day to care for the coast we all love. Whether they`re maintaining our beaches and facilities, protecting our natural environment or helping visitors enjoy their time on the coast, they do so with pride and dedication.
We ask our community to extend the same care and respect to our staff that they show to our coastline.
A friendly smile, a kind word or a simple thank you can make someone`s day. Be kind to each other. Be kind to our staff. Be kind to our coast. 💙Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18117989651177046
The coastal skies can be so much more interesting than just clear blue (although we do love a sunny day on the coast!). This pic by one of our clever staff members gives yet another new perspective on the Bluff, sea and skies 🤩 What a magical place to live, work or visit - we are so lucky.
Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18030846653916129
A little chick, with a watchful parent close by! 🐣
Filmed on Monday at Barwon Bluff, this Hooded Plover chick is one of three that hatched last week. All three chicks were last sighted yesterday and are still going strong!
A big thank you to Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their incredible work monitoring these vulnerable birds and for sharing this precious footage with us.
Please continue to respect beach closures and follow signed detours to give these little ones the best chance of survival.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17870379807676431
🚧 Temporary beach access closure – Thirteenth Beach
The car park and beach access path at Thirteenth Beach sand ramp beach access (Emergency Marker THI182, formerly 40W) will be temporarily closed on Friday 13 November 2026 for essential track surface repairs.
Works are expected to take one day.
Thanks for your patience while we complete these important maintenance works to keep our coastal access tracks safe.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17913952881474350
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
– Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen
Today, we honour those who have served and sacrificed in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.
We also acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served in defence of our country and the freedoms we enjoy today.
At 11 am, we join Australians across the country in observing one minute`s silence to remember all who have served and sacrificed.
Lest we forget. 🌺Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17894808372457653
💙 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
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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