Scientific Research - Hooded Plover

Aim: To collect data on a bird called the hooded plover.  The data we will collect will be on the study of frequency, habitats and threats to the plover. This data that we collect will be used to establish a program to increase numbers and to make rational decisions basised on factual information for future research.

Method: Once arriving at the beach the groups will be assigned to taks like scribing, photography, threat observing, GPS operator video. The information collected will be taken on a graph in your book that comes with a table.
- Scribing: Write down threats that have been observed and write down data collected by the GPS.
- Photography: Take photos of any sightings of the plover.
- Threat observing: Observe the area around you to see threats like animals, humans and other types of things.
- GPS operator: Take down the longitude and latitude co-ordinates where the plovers where located on the beach.
- Video operator- Take video observations of the birds seen

Synopsis: A hooded plover is a bird that nests and breeds along beaches in some parts of Australia. The plover is around 10 centimetres in height and 20 centimetres in length and they weigh around 90 to 100 grams. Males and females have the same complexions and their young are just greyer versions of the adults. The problem that is killing the birds are its threats that destroy their nests and drives the bird off of the York Peninsula and many other places around Australia.

Results: In mild conditions of temperatures in low 20's and quite a percentage of cloud, the conditions out at sea where rough and on the shore there where rolling waves coming up to the shore. This is where most of the plovers we saw where located, up to the breaking waves that hit the shore, and they were there to probably catch some food like crustaceans like worms, sea lice and other small living things. During the day we saw any amount of threats to the plover. The threats we saw where cars parked on the beach which could of ran over the plover’s nests and seagulls which eat the plover’s hatchings. These two threats are something that has decreased their numbers over the years, but yesterday we found signs that the population is increasing. To be able to find 4 plovers in 2 pairs show that the research we are doing towards the hooded plover are paying off and that the plovers are increasing in numbers. The plovers that we located where found at S 35.14077 and S 35.14039 at Pondalowie bay. The spots on the beach where we found these plovers was a find where the others in the past had not found many amounts of the birds. This shows that the plovers are hopefully increasing in numbers and that hopefully one day these birds will come off the valneable list.