Plover Pale Ale supports our local hoodies

The Margaret River Brewhouse has made a generous donation to local conservation with their recent Plover Pale Ale campaign.

The rebadging of Brewhouse’s popular Pale Ale has raised $2150 to assist local conservation groups improve signage about Hooded Plover conservation on local beaches.

Lovingly known as Hoodies, hooded plovers are small coastal birds that nest on our local beaches. Eleven pairs of hoodies are known to nest and raise their young on beaches between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. Hoodies struggle to find a bit of undisturbed beach to breed and as a result their numbers are declining and the species is now listed as vulnerable.

During the month of September, the Margaret River Brewhouse donated $1 per pint of Plover Pale to projects facilitated through Nature Conservation Margaret River Region on behalf of local conservation groups. Local groups together with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) are protecting hooded plovers by monitoring breeding beaches, protecting active nesting sites with fencing and signage, and raising community awareness about what people can do to help.

Brewhouse Director, Iliya Hastings said ‘our people are very keen to better understand and support local conservation. We all have a connection to the special values of our coast so helping the hoodies was a great way to give back. The initiative and funds raise will help raise awareness and improve the chances of Hooded Plover pairs raising their young safely over the summer months. Our beaches wouldn’t be the same without them.’

Nature Conservation Executive Officer, Caroline Hughes said, ‘Hooded Plovers start to nest on Capes beaches during October every year. This coincides with increased numbers of people visiting the beaches because of the lovely spring weather.

‘We are extremely grateful to the Brewhouse for raising much needed funds to improve signage on local beaches. We are also asking the community to do help out’.

‘It would be great if people could keep a look out for hoodie families and give them space to raise their young. Hoodies usually nest above the high water mark so we ask that people walk below this area,  keep their dogs to approved dog exercise areas, preferably on a lead, and report hoodie sightings to our local Parks and Wildlife Service Office’,  she explained.

New volunteers are always welcome to sign up for the Capes Hooded Plover Monitoring Program.  Please contact [email protected]

Learn more about Hooded Plovers and other beach nesting birds at www.mybeachbird.com.au/

Photos courtesy of Steve Castan and Jenny Kikeros