Hooded Plover

About

A stocky beach-nesting shorebird whose population has almost halved since 2000, largely from nest disturbance by people, dogs and vehicles on ocean beaches. Discovery Bay Coastal Park is recognised as an Important Bird Area for the species.

How to spot it

Black hood and throat with a white collar, red bill with a black tip, red eye-ring and orange legs. Nests are simple scrapes in open sand above the tideline — give roped-off nesting areas a wide berth in spring and summer.

Found in

• Discovery Bay Coastal Park