Plovers ‘slaughtered’

KIM WATERS
DOGS are killing endangered hooded plovers at Point Lonsdale despite new signs demanding use of leashes, according to a Bird Australia volunteer.
John Murray said he had watched the population of beach-dwelling birds dwindle after Borough of Queenscliffe tightened dog regulations during the plover breeding season.
Mr Murray accused dog walkers of “continually” ignoring the rules.
The Independent reported in August that the borough introduced the on-leash regulations after a four-month battle with residents fighting a proposed total dog ban on the beach. Residents presented council with a 712-signature petition and more than 105 submissions against the proposal.
Dog owners rejected claims that walking their pets threatened plovers nesting between Fellows and Buckleys Roads.
Mr Murray called for “stricter” enforcement of the on-leash rule.
“People seem to think birds are only vulnerable on the upper beach, so they take their dogs off the leash near the rock shelves but some of the birds hatch there,” he said.
“It shows that residents need to obey these signs – they’re there for a reason.
“The signs are pretty self explanatory and it’s not too much to ask that dog walkers take notice of them so we can protect these birds.”
Mr Murray said 60 to 90 eggs hatched over the past five years but only three birds survived.
“Public education is really the first step to protecting the hooded plovers and we need more volunteers involved in monitoring this stretch of beach.”
A borough document said by-laws officers caught five dog walkers with unleashed pets over two months earlier this year.
The officers gave the residents verbal warnings but no fines.
“The hooded plover breeding was not highly successful over spring/summer, where chicks from one nest between 2W and 3W in early November (laid in late October) within the Borough of Queenscliff did not survive,” the document said.
A borough spokesperson said councillors recently voted to “continue a community education process” backing Bird Australia’s push for a volunteer group to help protect the plovers.
Council also voted in favour of funding more nest-protection fencing and signage, the spokesperson said.