Know Your Nature Parks - Summer 2024-25

Summer is a wonderful time on Millowl (Phillip Island), with sunshine and blue skies and migratory birds feeding and breeding on our shores. It is a vibrant time for visitors and the local community to enjoy the beautiful natural areas and beaches.

In The Skies – Birdlife

Hooded plovers

It is an exciting time, the 2024-2025 breeding season is underway. Hooded plovers and other shorebird species have been recorded on our shores.
Hooded plovers, affectionately known as ‘hoodies’, breed from August to April with pairs claiming a territory of beach for nesting and raising chicks. Hoodies usually lay two to three eggs in a simple scrape. The pair will take turns incubating the eggs until they hatch at around 28 days. Chicks are precocious, meaning they leave the nest shortly after hatching and parents will stand guard and alert chicks if danger approaches, however chicks must find food and shelter for themselves.

Image 1: Hooded plover eggs.

Scrapes have been formed and eggs laid in several locations across Phillip Island. We welcomed 'Team Hoodie' which is made up of dedicated volunteers and staff and throughout the peak season, the team will monitor breeding activities across our beaches.
Beachgoers are encouraged to stay on tracks and avoid walking on dunes, follow advice in refuge areas to protect nesting shorebirds and keep dogs on leads and cats indoors. Our local community plays a vital role in safeguarding these tiny, yet mighty shorebirds, a key factor to a successful breeding season and the ongoing conservation of shorebirds.

Image 2: A banded hooded plover.

Crested terns

A significant colony of crested terns has nested on the coast at the Nobbies. These sea birds can be viewed from the Nobbies boardwalks, and many are sitting on an egg in a simple depression in the sandy ground.

Image 3: Crested terns nesting site at the Nobbies.

On Our Shores and In Our Waters

Little penguins 

The 2024–25 breeding season began unusually early, with high autumn breeding activity leading to a season start in July. The early start was reflected in the numbers of little penguins crossing the beach at night at the Penguin Parade, which showed higher attendance in the months of May-July 2024 compared to previous years.
However, the promising start was followed by challenging conditions. While mid-to-late August presented positive signs, with most breeding burrows containing chicks and some adults still incubating eggs, the situation deteriorated toward the start of September. The decline was reflected in both nightly Penguin Parade numbers and little penguin weights.
The challenging conditions forced adults to spend longer periods at sea, resulting in less frequent feeding for the chicks and consequently, multiple failed breeding attempts. This is indicated by the drop in nightly Penguin Parade numbers during September.
While these challenges may seem concerning, similar patterns occurred in the previous season when little penguins compensated for failed first attempts with second and even third clutches. We remain hopeful that with improved conditions more successful breeding attempts will occur in the coming months, leading to a better overall breeding season.

Image 4: Penguins in the colony at Summerland Beach.

Seals

Adam Yaney-Keller (PhD Candidate, Monash University) is studying the impact of entanglement on Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks using thermal sensors on drones to improve detections and looking at short and long-term impacts of being entangled. This project is funded by WIRES, the Foote Trust, the Australian Wildlife Society, and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, and funding from the Penguin Foundation will amplify results through community education and outreach.
Testing of thermal and colour imagery for detecting entangled seals from drones has been completed and the imagery is being analysed. An exciting result so far is that the technology is also useful for detecting other types of wounds, such as shark bites.
We have also finished the tracking work for the project, having glued trackers to the fur of 24 individual seals. This included 12 fur seals that were rescued from entanglement and were healthy or ‘control seals’ – their movements and behaviour will be compared to see how being entangled impacts them.
During the final field trip of the study on 9 October, we were able to release a female juvenile from green netting who we first sighted on Seal Rocks in May 2024, but all capture attempts had failed. A tracking device was attached and is working well, and she has been busy exploring the waters around Seal Rocks.

Image 5: An entangled seal pup with mother, identified by drone.

On The Ground 

Eastern barred bandicoot

September 2024 saw regular Eastern barred bandicoot (EBB) trapping undertaken across Churchill Island, Fishers Wetland and the Summerland Peninsula.
Across three nights at Churchill Island, we had 102 captures of 67 individuals, 37% of which were caught for the first time. Most animals were of average body condition, and breeding was in full swing with 61 pouch young seen, quite a few of which were large and furred and many young animals were caught for the first time. Fishers Wetland trapping occurred concurrently with 15 captures of 15 individuals, 47% of which were caught for the first time. Pouch young were also seen at Fishers Wetland but were not as advanced as those on Churchill Island and adult body condition was also not as good.
Across three nights at the Summerland Peninsula, we had 37 captures of 24 individuals, 38% of which were seen for the first time. Most animals had good or average body condition. Fourteen pouch young were seen and were generally younger than those at Churchill Island. Across these two trapping sessions, 31 volunteers contributed 357 hours over seven days assisting with trap setting, research assisting, handling and free feeding.
Bandicoots are continuing to spread across the island, with an increase in the number of sightings around Rhyll, Smiths Beach and Wimbledon Heights. Sightings from the public help us track their spread so if you see an EBB, please report it on our EBB sightings portal here.

Image 6: Volunteer Taylor handling a bandicoot during trapping

Bush stone-curlews 

The first groups of bush stone-curlews from Mt Rothwell Sanctuary were released on Phillip Island (Millowl) in August 2024, marking the commencement of a landmark study in a collaboration between Phillip Island Nature Parks, Odonata Foundation and the Australian National University. The program is sponsored by the Penguin Foundation with the long-term goal to improve the viability of the Critically Endangered bush stone-curlew in south-eastern Australia.
Before birds were translocated and released, each bird was checked for body condition, assessed for anti-predator behaviours and fitted with a unique leg flag and GPS backpack to allow researchers to track and monitor movements after release.
A total of 12 bush stone-curlews have been released. The research team have been busy keeping track of the birds as they are particularly vulnerable whilst they adapt to survival in the wild. Sadly, one of the birds ventured onto a road at night and was struck by a vehicle, an unfortunate reminder to take care when driving, especially at dawn, dusk and at night when wildlife is most active.
In November 2024, health checks were conducted and determined that the birds are doing well and have settled into two different zones around Oswin Roberts and Koala Conservation Reserve. The health checks included measuring body weight and condition, presence of external parasites, a visual assessment of general health, and check of the leg bands and GPS device. These checks were guided by species expert, Shoshana Rapley, from the Australian National University and supported by Aimee Patching, an internship student from Deakin University. 
The reintroduction program is led by Senior Scientist Dr Duncan Sutherland, with a research study to test and evaluate the reintroduction strategies conducted by PhD Candidate Paula Wasiak through the Species Coexistence Lab at the Australian National University.
The research will assess the trial and refine the tactics for future releases over a three-year period.  Their progress will be assessed by their survival rates, habitat use, movement patterns and reproductive success. 
The Curlew Custodian Volunteer team is playing an integral role in caring for and monitoring the captive birds at the Koala Conservation Reserve. You can find out more here.    

Image 7: A founding bush stone-curlew.

For the locals

Forrest Caves upgrades underway

Planned works will see a significant improvement to the main Forrest Caves beach access stairway. 
Current upgrades will provide improvement to the north and south stairway structures including a reconfiguration of stairs and landings and replacement of deteriorating timbers and fixings including non-slip materials. Construction commenced on 6 November 2024 and works are planned to be undertaken in two stages to prevent disruption during the peak summer season. Completion is expected by June 2025.
For more information, please visit here.

Image 8: Forrest Caves stairs renovation underway.

Beach safety

As we enjoy more beautiful weather, the Bass Coast region is calling all beachgoers to enjoy the sandy shores safely. To help you stay safe, we encourage everyone to download the Surf Life Saving Australia, Beachsafe app and access important information available on the Life Saving Victoria website and throughout Visitor Information Centres.
🚩Always swim at patrolled locations whenever possible, and in hot weather, take steps to protect yourself and others. Remember to;

• Keep cool
• Stay hydrated
• Plan ahead
• Check in with others
• Stay away from cliff edges (do not sit or stand within 10 metres)

Image 9: Stay Safe in the Bass Coast campaign image.

Support your Nature Parks

Sharing our Shores

From 1 December 2024 to 30 April 2025, Phillip Island Nature Parks together with project partners Birdlife Australia, Bass Coast Shire Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Conservation Regulator, will engage with the local community and visitors to Phillip Island to ensure everyone enjoys the beaches and helps protect wildlife on our shores.
You can enjoy our beaches safely this Summer and do your best to help wildlife nest and rest by taking these easy steps:

• Stay on tracks and avoid walking on dunes
• Follow advice in refuge areas to protect nesting shorebirds 
• Keep dogs on leads and cats indoors 
• Take your rubbish with you

Images 10: Sharing Our Shores social campaign.

Water for wildlife

The wildlife on Millowl is part of what makes the Island such a special place to live and visit. Wildlife can be affected by extreme heat events and animals may behave differently. In some cases, this may become an emergency event with hot and dry conditions increasing the risk of bushfire. 

Image 11: Water bowls for wildlife at the Koala Conservation Reserve.

Help protect our wildlife

• To report injured or deceased wildlife, call Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
• Place bowls of water out around your garden to help wildlife keep hydrated. Choose quiet, shady locations away from people, pets and roads.  
• Use the garden hose to spray mist into trees and shrubs to create cooler niches that wildlife can use to escape the heat. 
• Take care when driving, especially at dawn, dusk and at night when wildlife is most active.  
• Look out for ‘Caring for Wildlife’ signs to identify species hotspots.

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Share Your Nature Parks

Over the Summer, don't forget to share images with us by using our hashtag #PhillipIslandNP