The Short-tailed Shearwater Great Migration
The short-tailed shearwater is a mid-sized migratory bird, and one of just a few that come to Australia to breed. These birds - also known as mutton-birds - travel around the world, migrating each year north from Australia up to Japan, then via Siberia to the north of Alaska. They manage this massive 16,000km round-trip in under four weeks, all before returning to our shores.
They spend their time around Australia’s southern coastline, renovating past nests and building new ones. The breeding pairs lay just one egg. In April, the adult shearwater birds begin their trip back up north to Alaska, leaving behind their young chicks to finish growing their adult feathers and learning to fly before following their migration a few weeks later.
During this time, this species and its adorable young chicks need all the help from the community they can get.
For more facts about the species, have a read of our ‘Short-tailed Shearwater Nature Note’.
Why do we need community action during the short-tailed shearwater migration?
Now on their own, the chicks grow their adult feathers and start to learn how to fly. During this time of training, they often end up on roads around Phillip Island, attracted to streetlights and the flat road surface - perhaps mistaking them for the moon on the water.
This is why we kindly ask residents and businesses to please turn off their outdoor lights at night and reduce speed on the roads. This can help to stop attracting young shearwaters to dangerous roads and human-inhabited areas, and help you avoid hitting one if you come across them on the road.
Should you hit a short-tailed shearwater on the road, it can also create an additional hazard for motorists. These birds are very oily, which can make the road slippery and dangerous for drivers.
Phillip Island Nature Parks is putting a dedicated team of rangers to work, patrolling the roads and rescuing wayward birds to help minimise this risk, but we also ask that those in the community help by keeping an eye out for these birds.
The San Remo bridge lights will also be turned off on key nights from the 19th of April to the 10th of May.
How to support the migration
There are three key actions you can take to support the short-tailed shearwater migration.
Turn off your outdoor lights at night
Outdoor lights can attract young shearwaters. Turn them off to help the birds stay in nature and away from human-inhabited places, where they are more likely to get run over.
Drive carefully
Drive more slowly than usual - speed limits will be reduced to 40km/h. Keep an eye out for birds on the roads. They often end up exploring flat areas such as roads, so be prepared to stop at short notice.
Report sick or injured wildlife
To report sick or injured wildlife on Phillip Island call Wildlife Victoria 24/7 on (03) 8400 7300.
Take care when driving on Phillip Island especially at dawn, dusk and at night when wildlife is most active.
Migration dates
The shearwater chicks usually begin their migration at the end of April, however this is extremely weather dependent. They wait for strong westerly winds so the exact flight times can vary.
In order to stay up to date and turn your lights off at the right time, click ‘attending’ to our Facebook event and we’ll let you know when the chicks begin to migrate.
Shearwater Flight Path
What can I do as a business owner?
Phillip Island businesses can get involved in protecting our short-tailed shearwater chicks by turning their business lights off at night.
Make sure your staff are aware of the migration, and what they and their families can do to help keep the chicks safe.
You can also put signs up in store, and share our posts on your social media to let customers know that you will be supporting this important local conservation event. It costs you nothing, but can make a world of difference to this species.
Contact us at community@penguins.org.au to become a supporter and receive a free campaign poster.
What is the Phillip Island Nature Parks Conservation Team doing?
During this time, late-April to mid-May, Phillip Island Nature Parks rangers and volunteers patrol roads and rescue wayward birds in danger of being hit by motorists.
We also conduct long term research studies, monitoring the birds during nesting and attaching tracking devices during their long migration. Watch the video below to get an understanding of the important research and conservation work done by our scientists.
What if I find a dead or displaced shearwater?
If you find an uninjured bird on the beach, you can give them another chance by carefully moving them back to a highpoint or placing them under a bush or in a sheltered area such as under a boardwalk.
Please also remember to stay on the paths and boardwalks, as walking through the habitat can easily cause burrows to collapse.
As part of the cycle of nature, some of the weaker fledglings may not survive their flight attempts. If you find a shearwater that hasn’t survived, please leave it on the beach as it will go on to provide a rich source of food for the near-threatened Pacific gulls that move from their breeding sites to Phillip Island to feed. If it’s on a road, move to the side where it is safe to do so.
Please help us to log dead penguins, shearwaters and seabirds via the Nature Parks online form and assist with ongoing research and monitoring.
Thank you to our partners
We would like to thank our partners who helped make this event possible: Ausnet and Department of Transport and Planning.
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and to the supporting businesses!
Bass Coast Secondary College San Remo Campus
Bass Strait Direct
Bendigo Bank San Remo
Berninneit, Cowes
Blue Gum Garden Centre
Bottle-O at Phillip Island
Burnt Toast
Evans Quarries
First Choice Agency
Free 3D Hands
Friendly Grocer Cape Woolamai
Full Circle Surf
Garth Lisle
Gippsland Veterinary Group – Newhaven
IGA San Remo
Island Burger Bar
Island Healing
Island Organics
Island Pies & Bakery
Ivy Plant Studio
National Vietnam Veterans Museum
Newhaven College
Newhaven Information Centre
NewsExpress
Newhaven Primary School
Organature
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
Phillip Island Helicopters
Phillip Island Visitors Information Centre
Rip Curl
Safflower Medical Centre
San Remo Butchers
San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Operative
San Remo Pharmacy
San Remo Primary School
Seaside Provider
Shorelec
Smith's Bar & Beach Food
Stockdale and Leggo San Remo & Cowes
The Haven Wave Cafe
The Island Accommodation
The Wooli Tavern
Vietnam Veterans Museum
Westernport Water
Woolamai Pizza