other debris. Threats The population of hooded dotterels has declined in eastern Australia as a result of disturbance by people, dogs, cats and horses, as well as predation by silver gulls (Larus novaehollandiae), ravens (Corvus spp) and introduced foxes. Fox predation is a major threat to the western subspecies. Distribution and habitat Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, coastal saline lagoons, and sandy beaches. Heavy populations are found on beaches with seaweed and dunes. It is threatened by habitat loss because of its small population and limited native range. It is a non-migratory inhabitant of coastal and subcoastal Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and is a vagrant in Queensland. Conservation Important Bird Areas BirdLife International has identified the following sites as being important for hooded dotterel conservation: South Australia Coffin Bay Coorong Kangaroo Island Tasmania Cape Portland Eastern Flinders Island King Island Marion Bay Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet North-west Tasmanian Coast Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay St Helens Victoria Corner Inlet Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds Phillip Island Port Fairy to Warrnambool Yambuk Western Australia Lake Gore System Lake Warden System Pink Lake Yalgorup See also Sanderling References External links Hooded plover threats and recovery strategies hooded dotterel Birds of Western Australia Birds of South Australia Birds of Victoria (Australia) Birds of Tasmania Endemic birds of Australia hooded dotterel hooded dotterel Taxonomy articles created by Polbot