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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(4)

Manage one beach or two? Movements and space-use of the threatened hooded plover (Thinornis rubricollis) in south-eastern Australia

Michael A. Weston A B C , Glenn C. Ehmke B and Grainne S. Maguire B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Birds Australia, Suite 2-05, The Green Building, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Vic. 3052, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: mweston@deakin.edu.au

Wildlife Research 36(4) 289-298 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR08084
Submitted: 3 June 2008  Accepted: 5 March 2009   Published: 1 June 2009

Abstract

An understanding of space use and dispersal of a wildlife species is essential for effective management. We examined the movements of a beach-dwelling, threatened population of hooded plover (Thinornis rubricollis) in southern central Victoria, Australia, by analysing sightings of colour-banded birds (4897 sightings; 194 birds tracked for up to 9 years). Most movements were relatively short (5050 ± 305 m), with 61.4% <1 km and 95.3% <20 km; they lacked directional or sexual bias. The extent of coastline used by individual birds was 47.8 ± 58.0 km. Regional differences in average distances moved by adults were apparent. For adults, movement rates (mean distance per day) were higher during the non-breeding season than during the breeding season. Non-breeding adults generally remained close to their partners (non-breeding, 456.3 ± 163.9 m; breeding, 148.2 ± 45.3 m). Largest flock sizes were recorded during the non-breeding period, and flocking was not uniformly distributed along the coast but appeared to be concentrated in particular locations. The frequency of pair cohesion (i.e. when the distance between partners was zero on a given day) was similar during the breeding (69.6%) and non-breeding seasons (67.7%). Breeding territories (kernel analysis) were 36.7 ± 5.7 ha and overlapped from year to year in all cases (23 pairwise comparisons; 47.9 ± 7.1% overlap). The high fidelity and constancy of territories confirms they warrant ongoing management investment, although the species relies on a matrix of breeding and non-breeding sites. The latter appear to occur in specific parts of the coast and warrant enhanced protection and more research attention. Fragmentation of the breeding population might occur where habitat is rendered unsuitable for > ~50 km.


Acknowledgements

We thank two anonymous referees for improving the manuscript. This research was conducted Department of Natural Resources and Environment permits (RP97208, RP96113 and RP95067), Parks Victoria permits (NP978/095, NP945/156 and NP67/011), Ethics Approval Permit (AEEC 6540720921120), and appropriate Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS) permits. Financial support was provided by an Australian Postgraduate Research Award, Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund, Australian Bird Environment Foundation, Barwon Heads Committee of Management, the M. A. Ingram Trust and the Stuart Leslie Bird Research Fund (Birds Australia). Birds Australia staff were supported during the preparation of this manuscript by an Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust grant hosted by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority. State-wide counts were supported by the Australasian Wader Studies Group, a special interest group of Birds Australia.


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