Cape Chatter has been away at South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula attending Birdlife Australia’s Beach Nesting Bird Conference so apologies for the time between publications. The Conference brought together a group of very passionate experts, land managers and volunteers to hear about the ‘state of the nation’ of these vulnerable birds, including our very own local species, the Hooded Plover. There is still much to be done to arrest the decline of these bird species, but we came away very encouraged by the passion displayed by all involved along with good scientific research and management plans in place to support the ongoing protection and survival of the species.