Phillip Island is world renowned for its Little Penguins, Eudyptula minor. However, it is also home to a number of threatened and significant plants and animals.
i. Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis Protection
Hooded Plover Watch is a community-based initiative aimed at monitoring and improving Hooded Plover breeding success on Phillip Island. Hooded Plovers typically nest on surf beaches in the busy summer months. They are prone to disturbance and thus low breeding success. Volunteers help monitor nest sites and educate the public about the importance of keeping themselves and dogs away from nesting areas. This program is conducted from late Spring to early Autumn. Counts of all birds on beaches are held quarterly to monitor the species in the long term.
Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris Rescue
Short-tailed Shearwaters arrive on Phillip Island within a few days of 24 September after a 16,000km migration from the waters off the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. Shearwaters, or ‘Muttonbirds’, lay one egg in the last week of November in a burrow among the sand dunes around the Island. The egg hatches in mid-January and the parents feed the chick until they begin their migration again in mid-April. They leave behind a very fat, fluffy chick that grows its ‘adult’ feathers and begins the migration weeks after the adults leave. As these chicks first stretch their wings and learn how to fly many end up on roads around the island, seemingly attracted to street lights and the flat surface of the road. During this time, late April to mid-May, Rangers patrol roads removing wayward birds in danger of being hit by motorists. Rangers need assistance with this program to help catch and release wayward birds- please help us by volunteering with the program.
Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus Koalas were introduced to Phillip Island in the 1890’s as a protective measure due to their dramatic population decline on the mainland. Viewing of koalas became extremely popular and to protect Phillip Island's natural vegetation from human trampling the Koala Conservation Centre was opened in 1992. The KCC provides close viewing of koalas from elevated boardwalks in a natural setting. The centre also provides valuable habitat for other species such as birds, possums, bats, wallabies and other woodland wildlife. Volunteer opportunities exist at this centre, however they are normally in association with general operation programs on an as-need basis. The Friends of the Koalas volunteers regularly assist in monitoring the koalas and care for their habitat.
Fox Vulpes vulpes Eradication
Foxes were introduced to Phillip Island around 1905. Foxes are the Little Penguin’s number one predator on land so by the 1980’s nine of the Islands ten penguin colonies had become extinct and the remaining colony on the Summerland Peninsula was under threat. Farmers and rangers began controlling the foxes in a coordinated approach that has yielded over 1000 foxes over the past 20 years.
In 2006, the Nature Park initiated a fox eradication project focused on a range of integrated techniques to remove foxes from Phillip Island. If successful this will have great benefits for Little Penguins, Short-tailed Shearwaters and other Phillip Island wildlife populations.
Cat Felis catus management Feral and roaming domestic cats are a significant problem to wildlife. They hunt small birds, reptiles and frogs and can spread toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii which can infect humans and other mammals such as sheep, dolphins and whales.
Weeds
Weeds are one of the greatest threats to flora and fauna on Phillip Island. Over 200 weeds have been recorded in the Park, including five ‘Weeds of National Significance’ and 26 state declared noxious weeds. To help combat weeds, a weed strategy has been developed that sets priorities, partnerships and resources for weed management.
Revegetation A full time revegetation officer coordinates the collection of seeds and cuttings, raising of seedlings and planting programs to rehabilitate damaged ecosystems and enhance endangered plant species. Volunteers from all over the world as well as the local community assist with this program.
Wetlands and Churchill Island Marine National Park Major wetlands can be found at Fishers Land (near Churchill Island), Swan Lake and Rhyll. Much of the northern coast of the park borders the Western Port Ramsar site and the Churchill Island Marine National Park. We are monitoring the health of our freshwater wetlands by undertaking frog surveys. back to top
b. Permits and Regulations
Where can I walk my Dog? Where and when you can walk with dogs on beaches and in public reserves on Phillip Island is restricted for the protection of native wildlfie and for the ammenity of other beach goers and reserve visitors. Phillip Island Nature Park collaborates closely with the Bass Coast Shire council to establish reasonable dog walking procedures are followed.
Events permits To facilitate the many user groups of Phillip Island Nature Parks, we have an organised permit system in place. Permits help ensure awareness regarding park values, visitor and wildlife safety and consideration of competing interests. The park also has a set of regulations to ensure protection of flora and fauna, protection of park assets and consideration of other park users. These regulations also give powers to apply fines for non-compliance.
Please call our Environment Department on 03 59512829 if you wish to receive a permit application form.
Fly Neighbourly Agreement
Phillip Island has one of thirteen national Fly Neighbourly Advices. The aim of the advice is to protect nesting birds and other significant species at three sites around the island:-
Cape Woolamai – breeding Hooded Plover and Short-tailed Shearwaters
Rhyll Inlet – roost site for migratory species
Summerland Peninsula – Home of world’s largest Australian Fur Seal colony at Seal Rocks and Little Penguins.
The FNA – places a voluntary compliance to raise minimum flight heights to 1500 feet within 1 nautical mile of these three designated wildlife precincts. Airservices Australia administers the control within the enroute supplement for pilots.
PINP Regulations Regulations relating to the PINP were first published in the Victorian Government Gazette in March 2000. These regulations include park uses and restrictions, entrance fees, offences and scale of fines. They are updated regularly (at least annually for fees and fines) and the latest details are available from the Victorian State Government web page – Victoria-on-line http://www.vic.gov.au/
