Scientific Research - Hooded Plover

Assessment of Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis) populations and their threats on Yorke Peninsula
The synopsis
The Hooded Plovers are a species that live on beaches. They lay there eggs and when these are disturbed the chances of their survival decrease dramatically. Hooded Plovers try to lure predators away from their nests but because they mistake us for predators and it doesn't work the Hooded Plover ends up staying away from its nest to long and the eggs or young die. If we were to reduce the amount of people and prevent cars from going on the beach then the Hooded Plovers would have a far easier way of life then they do now and this would greatly increase there chances of survival.
Aim and introduction
The Hooded Plover is a now very rare species of bird which can only be found in Australia. It is listed as vulnerable which means that it is very close to being endangered. However it also means that there is a good chance of us helping them to survive when if we help them now. What our class has done is made an observation of the Hooded Plover and what may be contributing to their gradual slide to extinction.
Method
Our class went to West Bay at 10:45 AM and started at S35degrees 14.109 E136degrees 49.914. The temperature was about twenty eight degrees and the day was the 20th of March. Half of the sky was covered in clouds and through the whole search not a spot of rain was seen. We assigned each person in the group something different to do. We had a scribe (who recorded information), a GPS operator (who marked the points) a threat observer (who would search for predators) and a photographer (who took photos of animals and tracks). When searching for Hooded Plovers and there potential predators we walked slowly and carefully, trying to be as quiet as possible and looking for any sign of movement. We walked very close to the ocean and searched for signs of a Plover nest or animal tracks as we went. Upon finding a Plover we would stand still and try to confirm that it was a Hooded Plover. If we found animal tracks then I would follow them to see if they would lead to a nesting area. We finished up at 12:00 PM at co-ordinates S35degrees 14.496 E136degrees 49.986.
Results
Despite our best attempts we were not able to spot any signs that a Hooded Plover was in the area. We found different kinds of Plovers and some Plover tracks but those tracks could have belonged to any kind of Plover so it is hard to say if there were any Hooded Plovers at West Bay. We found that there were no human footprints other then our own there. We saw a couple of people during the last few minutes of our survey but there were no signs that people had been in the area before us. However there were signs that other animals had been in the area. I discovered a number of Plover footprints as well as a set of dog tracks and fox tracks. Upon following the dog tracks I found that they intersected with some Plover tracks and ended in a mess of sand. However due to a lack of any feathers, fur and blood the bird probably spotted the animal and flew away in a panic. There were a few seagulls hanging around but other then that and a few other Plovers there were no sign of life on that beach. Surprisingly we were only able to find one piece of rubbish on the whole beach.
Discussion
The results were very strange. According to the threat observations the beach was near perfect for Hooded Plover habitation. The Plovers in the area had either died out or were very well hidden. Judging by the lack of any proof of Hooded Plovers they were probably both waiting at there nest or away from the beach. They had probably not laid any eggs due to a lack of any signs of communication between any of the plovers we saw.
Conclusion
It is hard to draw conclusions about these facts. If there are Hooded Plovers there then they are very well hidden and if there aren't then there is very good opportunity for them. If we moved a couple of Hooded Plovers to the area then they should be able to survive incredibly well in the conditions which are found on the beach. What happened to them on the beach is beyond me but all that seems to be needed is for some Hooded Plovers to move there and it should be fine.

These were the statistics that we recorded (and yes the last one is actually true (and slightly disturbing))
Site location name:West bay
Group name:Wardli 4 (We didn't have a choice in this. I would have called it group Alpha if i could)
Start:S35degrees14.109E136degrees49.914
End:S35degrees14.496E136degrees49.986
Date:19/3/10
Time start:10:45AM
Time finish:12:00PM
Estimated temperature:28degreesC
Wind:light
Rain:none
Cloud cover:50%
Threat Assessment
Human Footprints:medium
Walker/Joggers:sparse
Sun baking/Sitting:none
Tourist/Viewing only:sparse
Surfers/Swimmers:none
Fishers:none
Games:none
Dune-boards/races down dune:none
Dog walkers:none
Dogs on leash:none
Dogs off leash:none
Dog prints:sparse
Trail bike (or tracks):none
Quad bike or 4WD (or tracks):none
Ravens:none
Silver gulls(seagulls):sparse
Kelp or Pacific Gulls:sparse
Foxes (or prints):sparse
Horses (or prints):none
Litter:sparse
Other:sparse (nudes...as i said disturbing)