Bird life – Phillip Island

Phillip Island is a popular destination for bird lovers. More than a million short-tailed shearwaters (mutton birds) visit the island each year, covering long distances to arrive around 25 September every year. Approximately a million of them fly the 8,000 kilometres from the Aleutian Islands near Alaska, to Phillip Island to mate, dig burrows, fish during the day and return to their colony en masse at sunset. This dusk spectacle takes place until April and is best seen from the boardwalks at the Penguin Parade, from Cape Woolamai main car park, or on a Sunset Shearwater Cruise run by Wildlife Coast Cruises. Late April (around the 25th) the shearwaters leave from Phillip Island and return to Alaska.

Large numbers of migratory wading birds fly to Rhyll Inlet and wetland each year to feed and breed. The diverse population includes colonies of royal spoonbills, straw necked ibis, swans, little pied cormorants and the rare hooded plover. Follow the boardwalk to the lookout or the Oswin Roberts Walking Track to reach the most rewarding bird-watching areas.

Don’t miss the pelican feeding ritual at 11.30am each day on the beach at San Remo. These wild birds squabble over the fish, sway their big beaks and dance in unison as if being ‘conducted’ by the fish handlers.