Sign of concern: John Murray fears for the safety of endangered hooded plover chicks on Point Lonsdale Beach.
MICHELLE HERBISON
AN ANNUAL Rip to River fun run threatens to trample endangered hooded plover chicks wandering Point Lonsdale Beach, according to an environmentalist.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros called on organisers to divert the course to protect the unhatched birds.
Birds Australia said the chicks were set to hatch from the Point Lonsdale area’s two surviving hooded plover nests.
One nest’s chicks should hatch on the beach this Saturday and the other on Boxing Day, Birds Australia said.
The fun run is scheduled to pass along the beach on December 27.
Ms Lindros said the Rip to River threatened the plovers’ habitat.
She urged organisers to reconsider their route between Point Lonsdale’s lighthouse and the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club.
“We’ve got lots of beach. We don’t have to run on the same spot where the plovers are.
“People should understand we’re not the only ones who require the beach and we can move much more easily than the vulnerable birds.”
Birds Australia volunteer John Murray said he was worried the birds would roam the beach to feed during the fun run.
“The run will be at low tide so people will pass over the hard sand and hopefully the birds will run to the upper beach and hide,” he said.
Mr Murray was also concerned the run’s support vehicle could “squash” the plover chicks.
The hooded plover was particularly vulnerable, he said.
“They have the lowest rate of chick survival of any bird in the world. Out of 75 eggs laid this season only three chicks have survived.”
Mr Murray said the area had hosted five nests this breeding season but a fox attacked one, another was abandoned and a third “disappeared”.
Peter Rankin, of run organiser Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, said members cared about the birds’ survival.
“We work with Barwon Coast, City of Greater Geelong and Birds Australia to make sure we take every possible step to not disturb any plovers nesting at the time,” he said.
The club had not considered diverting the course.
“In the past relocation hasn’t been suggested but in the past the birds haven’t been in the way,” Mr Rankin said.
“Relocation would be very difficult to do at this point in time and the fun run is very important to the surf club.”
Mr Rankin said volunteers from Birds Australia usually helped to protect the hooded plovers during the fun run.
