Cliff the hooded plover finds a new home at Aldinga

A juvenile hooded plover called Cliff has survived a solo journey from Seacliff to Aldinga where he has made himself a new home.

Cliff the juvenile hooded plover at Aldinga. Picture: Ash Read

A hooded plover juvenile has made the bold and solo journey from Seacliff to Aldinga Beach, where he has made a new home.

The little bird known as Cliff — the only survivor of three that hatched at Seacliff in September — was last month spotted looking happy and healthy 30km away at Snapper Point.

He is the only known fledgling on the Fleurieu Peninsula this season to leave his home beach.

Hooded plovers are a threatened species and there are only about 50 adult birds left in the region.

Birdlife Australia volunteer Ligita Bligzna has watched over Cliff and his parents since he hatched and said she was thrilled to hear he had taken flight.

“It’s a long time spent monitoring the nest and monitoring the birds so it’s a good feeling for this bird to survive,” Ms Bligzna says.

“It makes it all worthwhile when you get to tell people that the bird is happy and living at Aldinga.”

Ms Bligzna said a new nest had been built by Cliff’s parents at Seacliff.

“The parents get quite aggressive and push out the juveniles when they are ready to nest again,” she said.

Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges coastal conservation officer Kerri Bartley said it was “wonderful news” that Cliff had found himself a new home.

“Especially at a place like Snapper Point as there is a great food source there,” she said.

She urged locals to keep their dogs on a lead anywhere they saw a hooded plover sign.

“The reason for this is that when dogs or people get too close to the nesting area, the parents will come off their nest to try and lead the threat away from their eggs.

“This can have the potential of leaving the eggs exposed to the elements, by either baking in the hot sun or becoming in danger of avian predators which can swoop down to steal and eat the eggs.”