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Latest News
Close X26 October 2026
Hooded Plover update – two active nests
Two nests have failed and two remain along our coastline.
26 October 2026
Summer food vendor expressions of interest 2026–27
Expressions of interest are now open for temporary summer food vendor permits across Barwon Coast Caravan Parks from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027.
15 October 2026
Hooded Plover update – two new nests at Thirteenth Beach
Great news for Hooded Plovers, with two new nests identified at Thirteenth Beach
13 October 2026
Temporary parking changes at Lahey Square – Wedsnesday 14 October
Filming for a car commercial is taking place in Barwon Heads on Wednesday 14 October.
7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed.
Hooded Plover breeding season update
Published on 7 October 2026
Hooded Plover breeding season is underway across our coast, with a new nest now confirmed and signs of potential nesting activity at several other locations.
Our Natural Reserves team, together with the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine, is continuing to monitor breeding activity and put temporary protection measures in place where required.
Current breeding activity
Bluff South Dune – The Corner
A Hooded Plover pair has established a nest, with eggs now being incubated.The nest is on rough, exposed ground and the eggs are extremely well camouflaged, making them very difficult to see.
Please steer well clear of the nesting area, keep dogs on lead and follow all temporary signage, fencing and restrictions in place. Giving the birds plenty of space is one of the best things we can do to help them successfully incubate their eggs.
Bancoora – Black Rock
Scrapes have been identified, indicating Hooded Plovers may be preparing to nest in the area.Thompson Creek – Vagg Street
Scrapes have been identified and the area is being monitored for further nesting activity.Wedge Street – Tuckfield Street
Hooded Plovers are currently on territory and showing signs of potential breeding activity.What is a scrape?
Hooded Plovers nest directly on the beach or in nearby dunes. Rather than building a traditional nest, they create a small depression in the sand, shell grit or other ground material known as a ‘scrape’.
A pair may create several scrapes before choosing one in which to lay their eggs, so the presence of scrapes can be an early sign that a nest may be imminent.
Help give Hooded Plovers the best chance
We’re very appreciative of the many members of our community who are keeping an eye out for Hooded Plovers and helping protect them during breeding season.
If you are visiting areas where Hooded Plovers are breeding:
- Give birds, nests and chicks plenty of space.
- Keep dogs on lead where required and always follow local dog regulations.
- Follow all temporary signs, fencing, beach closures and pedestrian detours.
- Walk close to the waterline and away from nesting areas and dunes.
- Never approach or disturb a Hooded Plover nest, eggs or chicks.
What to do if you find a nest
It is possible you may spot a nest before our monitoring teams do. Hooded Plover eggs are extremely well camouflaged and can be very difficult to see.
When parent Hooded Plovers detect a possible threat near their nest, they will often move away and try to draw the threat with them. If you find eggs and cannot see the parents, they are likely to still be nearby.
If you find a nest with eggs:
- Do not touch or move the eggs – moving them may make it difficult for the parents to relocate their nest.
- Move away from the area – parent Hooded Plovers need space to safely return to and incubate their eggs.
- Let us know – contact Barwon Coast on 5254 1118 so our Natural Reserves team can investigate and put appropriate protection measures in place.
A huge thank you to the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine for their ongoing work identifying and monitoring Hooded Plovers along our coast.
We’ll continue to share updates as the breeding season progresses.
Photo below by Rod Morrison.
Related Articles
Summer food vendor expressions of interest 2026–27
Expressions of interest are now open for temporary summer food vendor permits across Barwon Coast Caravan Parks from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Hooded Plover update – two new nests at Thirteenth Beach
Great news for Hooded Plovers, with two new nests identified at Thirteenth Beach
Temporary parking changes at Lahey Square – Wedsnesday 14 October
Filming for a car commercial is taking place in Barwon Heads on Wednesday 14 October.
If you have a bird bath in your backyard, you can help reduce the risk of spreading H5 bird flu by keeping it clean. 🐦
Regularly clean and disinfect bird baths, refresh the water often and wash your hands after handling them.
Where possible, keep pets away from bird baths and other places where wildlife gathers.
If you see sick or dead birds or wildlife:
✅ avoid direct contact
✅ record the exact location and what you observed
✅ report it online
🔗agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdfluOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18089536802696056
⚠️ Barwon River water quality
We`ve received advice from @barwonwater that people should avoid unnecessary contact with the water in the Barwon River until further notice.
Sewer spills have occurred in Belmont, Breakwater and Highton that have likely impacted the quality of the water in the Barwon River. Recreational users are advised to avoid unnecessary contact with the water.
Barwon Water is undertaking water quality testing and will provide further updates via their website when results are available.
For more information or enquiries, please visit the Barwon Water alerts and updates page.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18356625826174155
🖤💛 Have you heard the call of a Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo?
You might hear them before you see them! With their distinctive, drawn-out calls, striking yellow cheek patches and bright yellow tail feathers, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are a spectacular sight in our coastal skies.
These beautiful birds are found across south-eastern Australia, including here on the Bellarine Peninsula.
🌿 Did you know?
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos love feeding on seeds from banksias, hakeas and she-oaks. They`re also known to tear apart pine cones in search of a tasty meal!
They rely on large hollows in mature trees for nesting, making the protection of native vegetation and old trees incredibly important.
Sadly, habitat loss has contributed to declines in their populations, reminding us why caring for our natural environments matters.
Next time you`re out enjoying our coast, keep your eyes to the skies and your ears open!
Learn more from our friends at @birdlifeoz via their website.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 17974320126169028
H5 bird flu has been detected in some Victorian wetlands.
Boating and fishing can continue as normal in most areas.
If there has been a recent mortality event, avoid activities that could expose you to contaminated water, including swimming, wading, fishing and boating.
✅ Avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds
✅ Wash your hands thoroughly after visiting areas where wild birds gather
✅ Supervise children and pets around affected areas
For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdfluOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18110816540608116
🥚 A little egg-citing news from Ocean Grove!
A new Hooded Plover nest has been reported along Ocean Grove Beach, between Wedge Street and Tuckfield Street! 🐣
These tiny shorebirds nest directly on the sand, making their eggs incredibly vulnerable to disturbance.
If you`re heading to the beach, please give our little beach-nesting locals the best chance of success by keeping your distance, following signage and keeping dogs away from nesting.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18094379864659562
A huge congratulations to Breamlea Coastcare! 🌿🏆
We`re incredibly proud to celebrate Breamlea Coastcare being named Coastcare Group of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Coastcare Awards! 🌿🏆
What a fantastic achievement and such well-deserved recognition for a group that gives so much to protecting and caring for our beautiful coastline.
Much of the hard work that goes into coastal conservation happens quietly behind the scenes, but the difference it makes is enormous, with benefits that will be felt for generations to come.
To everyone involved with Breamlea Coastcare, a heartfelt congratulations and an even bigger thank you! Your passion, commitment and countless hours of volunteering make a lasting difference to our coastal environment and the wider community. 💚Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18640240123062951
🐦 Don`t forget – the Aussie Bird Count starts today!
Our friends at @birdlifeoz are calling on everyone to spend just 20 minutes counting the birds around them between now and Sunday 25 October.
Whether you`re walking along our beautiful coastline, exploring a local park or relaxing in your backyard, it`s a great way to connect with nature and contribute to important citizen science. 🌿
No experience needed – just download the free Aussie Bird Count app and get counting!
👉 Register at https://aussiebirdcount.org.auOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 18117035636092839
We`re Hiring! Sustainability & Community Officer
Help shape a more sustainable future for our coast and community!
Are you passionate about sustainability, connecting people and making a real difference to our coastal environment?
We`re looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Sustainability & Community Officer to join the Barwon Coast team!
This is an exciting opportunity to help drive our sustainability initiatives, strengthen relationships with our incredible volunteers and community groups, and create meaningful environmental education and engagement opportunities.
You`ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to protecting and caring for the beautiful coastline across Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and beyond.
Sound like you, or someone you know?
We`d love to hear from you!
👉 Apply now: https://barwoncoast.com.au/career/sustainability-community-officer/
Please share with your networks and help us find our next team member!
#BarwonCoast #Sustainability #CommunityEngagement #EnvironmentalEducation #CoastalConservation #GeelongJobs #BellarinePeninsulaOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17900276976670927
🌿 What does caring for the coast mean?
Well, it means lots of things! From maintaining the facilities and infrastructure across the 22 km of coastal Crown land we manage, to doing everything we can to protect our precious natural environment and restoring native vegetation.
🌱 Like this little Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) tree – one of 250 plants of varying native species planted across our coastal reserves over the past three months.
Choosing the right plants for the right places helps restore habitat, support local biodiversity and ensure our coast continues to thrive for generations to come.
It`s all part of the everyday work that goes into caring for our coast. 💚
#CaringForOurCoast #BarwonCoast #CoastalConservation #BiodiversityOpen post by barwoncoast with ID 17906692704576068
🐣🐣 Great news for our little Hoodies!
We`ve got two new Hooded Plover nests at 13th Beach, and the existing nest at Bluff South Dune (The Corner) is still going strong! 💚
🥚🥚🥚 13th Beach – Boings: 3 eggs
🥚 13th Beach – The Ant: 1 egg
🥚🥚🥚 Bluff South Dune – The Corner: Nest still in place!
We`re also keeping a close eye on three potential nesting sites at Bancoora – Black Rock, Breamlea and Wedge Street to Tuckfield Street at Ocean Grove/Collendina.
It`s encouraging news for these vulnerable little shorebirds, but there`s still a long way to go before any chicks successfully fledge.
If you`re heading to the beach, please give our Hoodies plenty of space, follow temporary signage and keep dogs on lead where required.
A huge shout-out to the wonderful Friends of the Hooded Plover – Bellarine volunteers, whose dedication, countless hours of monitoring and tireless efforts to protect these vulnerable little birds make such a difference. We`re so grateful for everything you do to give our Hoodies the best chance of survival! 💚🐣
👉 Read the latest nesting update on our website news page.Open post by barwoncoast with ID 18416111614155062
This is Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the land, waters, seas and skies of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, 13th Beach, Black Rock and Breamlea. We honour and say Nyatne to Elders past, present and future whose ancestors, for thousands of years, have cared for this part of Dja (Country). We are committed as an organisation to meaningfully work together with Traditional Owners to make Wadawurrung Culture and Country strong.
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