The Red-capped Plover – a comical little
character of our foreshore which must be protected
Plovers (visual feeders) and Sandpipers (probing feeders)
comprise most of the group of birds known as waders or shorebirds.
Many are long distance migrants that breed in Siberia or Alaska and
fly to our shores for the southern summer.
Others are non-migratory local breeders such as our 150mm
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus. It was formerly
known as the Red-capped Dotterel. This local resident nests along
the dunes and beachfront between the mouth of Merricks Creek to
beyond the Coolart Bridge. It is recognised by its rufous crown and
nape, white forehead and underparts. The male has a black margin at
the centre of the crown and tip of its half collar. The rest of the
upperparts are pale grey-brown.
A characteristic it shares with all plovers is the large
eyes used for seeking its prey of small insects, worms and
molluscs. It picks these from the surface in a comical erratic
stop-run-peck fashion.
In winter particularly it shelters among the seaweed along
the shore. Beach-cast seaweed is very important for small waders
both as protection from adverse weather and as habitat for its
invertebrate prey. The numbers of Red-capped Plover have declined
at Somers and Balnarring markedly over the last 10 years.
Local Threats
Waders are in decline all round the world – a matter of
international conservation concern. Many of the threats faced by
Red-capped Plovers involve humans, who accidentally crush nests and
chicks, disturb the birds when breeding, and allow their dogs to
chase and sometimes kill chicks and eggs
The Red-capped Plovers at Somers and Balnarring are particularly
vulnerable to fox and cat predation, disturbance by beach-goers
with dogs and destruction of nests by horses.
Loss and disturbance of feeding habitat and roost sites is a
concern.
Disturbance of nests, exposing young chicks to predators, is
also a problem during the breeding season which may last from
August to February.
What can local residents and beach users do?
Keep your dog on a lead and under control at all times.
Never ride your horse on sand dunes where you may destroy
nesting or feeding habitats.
Respect dune regeneration areas. Dunes need grasses and plants
to hold them in place
Do not remove the seaweed from the habitat area.
Recommendations for the Shire, the Somers Foreshore Committee
of Management and the Somers Residents Association.
Design and instal educational signs.
Possible beach patrol to protect the birds during the breeding
season.
Place notices, posters at the shops at Somers, Balnarring and
Balnarring Beach
More information and details of how you can become
involved
“Shorebird Conservation in Australia,” originally published as a
supplement to Birds Australia’s Wingspan is available for
free from Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East 3123,
tel 9882 2622 fax 9882 2677 email mail@birdsaustralia.com.au
Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) c/- Birds Australia tel
9882 2622
Bird Observers Club of Australia tel 9877 5342
Roger Richards Feb 2005
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