Unlocking the Secrets of the Grey Plover
Posted on 23 April, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds in is not usually considered a hot-spot for migratory wading birds. Those who follow the Natural Newstead blog will know that Cairn Curran has a restricted range of sandpipers, plovers and other Spring-Summer visitors from the northern hemisphere. And, before there was a change in treatment practices 10 or more years ago, the sewerage settling ponds in Castlemaine also used to be a regular wader haunt at the right time of year. However, one species that has probably not ever visited the local area is the Grey Plover. This migratory wader likes coastal-zone habitats.
Relatively little is known about the movement patterns of this tiny species. But, somewhat incredibly, effectively only female birds every migrate to Australia each year from their Siberian and Alaskan breeding grounds. No-one is really sure why the vast majority of male Grey Plovers do not migrate here as well, nor do they know where they go instead!
A group of Grey Plovers in breeding plumage. (Image from BirdLife Australia and Australian Wader Study Group’s Pozzible page)
Our friends at BirdLife Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Wader Study Group, have launched a fundraising campaign so that scientists can learn more about their migratory pathways. The funds raised will allow satellite-tracking devices to be purchased and then attached to a small sample of Grey Plovers. If their crucial habitats and stop-over locations can be identified, then the chances that this declining species can be better protected will improve.
Donations can be made to the project at their Pozzible fund-raising website (click here), with all donations over $2 being tax deductible. And, like other Pozzible campaigns, you can get some nice rewards and gifts depending on the size of the donation. This website link also has much more information about the biology of the Grey Plover and the broader campaign to help this species.
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