CREATING A HOODED PLOVER STRONGHOLD ON THREE HUMMOCK ISLAND

This project is working to create a stronghold for the Hooded Plover, Thinornis rubricollis rubricollis, a priority threatened species, on Three Hummock Island. Activities are designed to reduce the key threats to Hooded Plovers, namely pest animal (feral cat) predation, spread of invasive weeds into nesting areas, and the risk of ingestion and entanglement in marine debris.

The project continues to protect threatened birds through the implementation of strategic feral cat control in conjunction with project partners Biosecurity Tasmania, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, the Three Hummock Island managers, and Birdlife Australia.

Feral cat control is intended to create an island “safe haven” resulting in reduced mortality of Hooded Plovers and secondary benefits for other native species. Planned project activities plan to increase the availability of beach nesting habitat for Hooded Plovers by the seasonal control of Sea Spurge infestations, and marine debris clean-ups.

Project contact: Iona Flett, Biodiversity Program Manager [email protected]