Alone at last!

So this is summer …

What is the saying? “Beautiful one day, overcast the next” …Welcome to Venus Bay 2012

This summer so far has not been the typical hot blazing sun and deep blue cloudless skies. yet on the beach there are signs that it has been a much more typical summer than the past few years (at least for the beach profile)

The Erosion at the top of the beach seems to be very limited (last big events being in November) and the scarps are drying and collapsing leaving a steep wedge of sand rather a vertical cliff (except where marram grass clumps are hold up some areas (as shown above). The Average Height Tide Line is 10 to 20 meters seaward from these scarps, which has meant that the flatten out upper part of the beach (the summer berm) has been able to be strongly developed along the beach. This an area where dried out seaweed and other beach debris can accumulate. the sand dries out and is more susceptible to wind erosion so this part of the beach is flatter.  This is an important habitat for the shore nesting birds (like the hooded plovers). Hopefully they are enjoying this summer on the beach.

BTW its the Walk out on Point Smythe TODAY!

Adventures in Environmental Science

The Rounded Noon Flower Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum, sometimes called Pigface, an endemic species of our coastline are coming into flower now.





I would also like to post a link to a film I made called Adventures in Environmental Science which is about some of the activities of the Venus Bay Observation Project.


I am hoping that those who do view the film would find it to be educational and entertaining, but most of all I hope it inspires others to be brave and become involved and add their contribution to the Venus Bay Observation Project.

Hooded Plover Workshop

You are invited to a Hooded Plover Workshop coming up on Saturday15th October at the Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club. Join us to find out more about these quirky,  but vulnerable little birds that live on Venus Bay beach and other beaches in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. The event is part of our Coastcare Victoria Community Grant project to protect Hooded Plovers within Cape Liptrap Coastal Park in partnership with Birds Australia and Parks Victoria
Saturday 15th October
Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Start from 9.30am with opportunity to participate in half or whole day program finishing around 3pm
Morning session presenters:  Tanya Pyk from Birds Australia and Jonathon Stevenson from Parks Victoria 

Morning Tea and Lunch provided but BYO special dietary requirements.
Please RSVP to Tanya Pyk t.pyk@birdsaustralia.com.au or ph:03 9347 0757

The Hooded Plovers Web of Life

I found this wonderful illustration on the Culture Victoria website under stories/ Land & Ecology.

The first ring has all sorts of tiny crabs and critters that Hoodies like to eat. The second ring shows some of the birds that share the beaches with Hoodies - some that stay there all year round and others that fly long distances to spend summer on the beach in Australia. Most birds share the crabs and critters with the Hoodies, but others like to eat the Hoodies, and other birds!
These creatures are linked together because they need each other to survive. Of course, humans are part of this web of life, and we have an affect on how it works.

More details on the CV website

A good day for a walk

I hope those that braved the walk out around Point Symthe area had a great day. One of the highlights was seeing a pair of hooded plovers possibly at a new nesting site and some oyster catchers resting on the beach.

The experiments with trying to directly observe sand drift, where not totally conclusive (steve may have photos) but overall seemed to show more movement to the north west than south east. This corresponds with the direction obtained by reading the sand bars, which where attached to the beach at the south eastern end.

Beach-Nesting Birds Workshop & Beach Walk

Learn about Birds Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds project and how to safely monitor nesting
birds. All welcome!

Location: Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club (Surf Drive)

Date: Saturday 6th November
Indoor presentation: 11:00 am -12:00 pm
Break for lunch 12:00 - 1:00pm
[Bring along your lunch; tea/coffee/juice and cake will be provided]

Beach walk*: 1:00pm departing Number one beach (end of Surf Drive), heading east along the beach. We will walk at least 1km and depending on your fitness, there is the option join us on a longer walk.



* For those going on the beach walk, please be prepared for the weather and bring along wet weather gear or sun protection as required. If you have binoculars, please bring these along. You might want to bring along a bottle of water to keep hydrated.

What are the consequences of the extra erosion?

The simple answer is I'm not sure, that’s why this project was set up. Maybe with more observation the causes and consequences can be better understood. Here are a few likely short term issues

1) Because the lower part of the beach profile is flatter and lower -

1.1 Shell beds are exposed and partly eroded in many areas, so it is likely that the shell population will be reduced this season (eg the gatherers of pippis might find they are scarcer)

1.2 There may be more sandbar development early in the season (rather than mainly in late summer autumn). This could lead to significant changes and shifting of gutters and rips

1.3 Near shore current may be variable, even on a daily basis, as the sand shifts. The gutters may be deeper or even dissapera or rips suddenly become stronger (as more water empties from a broader beach) and potentially more dangerous.

2) Because the summer berm is limited or not developed at all -

2.1 Shore bird nesting habit could be significantly reduced (eg hooded plovers)

2.2 Less dry sand will be available to repair erosion and/or build new dunes

This pair of hooded plovers are attempting to nest south of beach one. One set of scratching (nest preparation) has already been washed away in early November. They now have now approximately 100m of sumer berm developing in their prefered nesting site, which is encouraging. It is roped with a sign at the northern end to try to discourage humans (and more particulalry their dogs) blundering across their nest. The Easters Hooded Plover are considered vunerable, because of low breeding success.

Help Save our hooded plovers