We’re urging people to practice tolerance and understanding towards nesting masked lapwings, also known as plovers, particularly during the upcoming breeding season.
NRE Tas Senior Wildlife Management Officer Robbie Gaffney said despite their fierce reputation, plovers are simply exhibiting parental behaviour to safeguard their eggs and chicks.
“Plovers are often misunderstood. Their swooping and loud warning calls are usually in response to perceived threats when people unknowingly venture too close to their nests,” Robbie said.
“Swooping can be close and intimidating, it’s a threat display and the birds do not intend to strike. Collisions usually occur when the birds ‘over commit’ or people throw up their arms in defence.”
Robbie said a swooping plover is often a signal that you are intruding on the bird’s nesting area.
“The recommended response is to calmly walk away to avoid further agitating the birds. If you can’t avoid a nesting area, carrying an umbrella can help, as plovers are more likely to swoop at the umbrella rather than at you directly,” he said.
The breeding season for plovers typically spans late winter to early spring. Once the eggs hatch and the chicks are mobile, the adult birds will move them to less disturbed areas.
The incubation period lasts between 28-30 days, the adults are most protective during the final two weeks of incubation and the first week after the chick’s hatch.
Plovers breed from their second year and live for 16 years. They form long-term monogamous pairs that usually only change when one of the pair dies. Nesting often occurs at the same area year after year, particularly if the nesting is successful.
Robbie advises a good way to reduce conflicts is to adopt predictable behaviour around nesting sites.
“Use the same pathways for walking to help plovers become accustomed to human presence, decreasing their need to defend their nests aggressively. It is also recommended to safely establish a barrier around nests with a 10-20 metre diameter,” he said.
“Understanding the behaviour of plovers and respecting their need for space can foster peaceful coexistence.”
These birds are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2002 and the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021.
Read more about masked lapwings.
