Sustainability

On Wednesday 13 September, St Joseph's School hosted Chris Willocks- Friends of the Hooded Plover Mornington Peninsula, Lisa Williams - Ranger from Southern Peninsula Parks and Reserves, Terry Pippen and Darrell Mackay from the Point Nepean Men's Shed worked with the Year 3/4 students building Hooded Plover shelters for the Hoodies on the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula biennial count in 2022 was 71 Hooded Plovers and 33 pairs. In 2022 there were only five successful fledglins. The Friends of the Hooded Plovers are a voluntary group who work closely with Lisa Williams and the staff at Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria rangers with Friends of the Hooded Plovers walk the dunes and beaches and undertake checks on the Hooded Plovers and all wildlife. Our students have been looking at the Hooded Plovers as part of their Sustainability lessons and have once again been fortunate enough to work with the Men's Shed, making habitat boxes for birds as a part of the Mornington Peninsula's Birds in Schools Program. The Men's Shed piloted the shelters in 2018 with Parks Victoria. Our students used their skills in building and constructing the shelters under the watchful eyes of Terry Pippen, Darrell Mackay, Lisa Williams and Chris Willocks. The shelters will be placed on the beaches to protect the eggs for a much needed successful fledging of the Hoodies.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Rosebud Bunnings and Marlene Butera, for the generous donation of materials.

In total 22 shelters were constructed. The Hooded Plover status is vulnerable and they are listed as endangered. They suffer from predators such as foxes, dogs, feral cats and rodents as well as natural predators including raptors, gulls, ravens and magpies. Unfortunately they suffer from mishaps to.

Jane Byrne

jbyrne@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au