Dark Sky Helps Launch One of the World’s Most Extraordinary Migrations
Each autumn, one of nature’s most remarkable journeys begins on Phillip Island (Milawul) as thousands of young short-tailed shearwaters take flight on an epic 15,000-kilometre migration to the Bering Sea near Alaska.
Raised in burrows along the island’s coastline, short-tailed shearwater chicks spend months underground while their parents forage in the Southern Ocean and return to their burrow to feed their single chick. Adults leave the breeding rookeries weeks before the chicks who stay on land, preparing for their first flight by gaining strength and growing flight feathers. In an extraordinary act of instinct, the young birds launch themselves into the night sky, beginning a journey across the Pacific Ocean to feeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.
Over approximately five years, these seabirds will travel the equivalent distance of flying to the moon and back.
But before they can begin this incredible migration, the chicks must first reach the ocean safely.
Artificial lighting can disorient the young birds as they take their first flights, drawing them inland instead of toward the sea. Attracted by bright lights from streets, homes and businesses, some birds become grounded on roads and around buildings where they are vulnerable to vehicle strike and predators.
This April and May, Phillip Island Nature Parks and its partners are asking the community to help create darker skies during the annual Dark Sky So Shearwaters Fly campaign.
The campaign encourages residents and businesses to switch off unnecessary outdoor lights, reduce bright lighting and drive carefully during the shearwater take-off period.
What began as a small local initiative has grown steadily each year, with businesses, community groups and government agencies joining the effort.
The campaign has expanded from targeting around 25 businesses in its first year to a whole-of-island approach, with a goal of more than 65 businesses and hundreds of households switching off their lights in 2026.
Since 2019, coordinated rescue patrols and response teams working during the migration period have saved more than 1,500 shearwaters that were disoriented by lights and grounded on roads and around buildings.
The Nature Parks has played a leading role in the campaign through research into light pollution and seabird behaviour, night patrols during the migration period, community education programs and collaboration with local partners to improve wildlife-sensitive lighting across the island.
Long term efforts have included switching off lights on the San Remo Bridge during peak migration nights, installing roadside signage and message boards, implementing traffic management measures and working with councils, lighting experts and businesses to promote best-practice lighting design.
Campaign partners include WE-EF Lighting, Phillip Island Conservation Society, Media Banc, Bass Coast Shire Council and the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport and Planning, with additional support from AusNet, the Victorian Ornithological Research Group, local businesses, and community groups. Together, they are helping ensure Phillip Island (Milawul) remains haven for nature and one of the best places in the world to witness this extraordinary migration.
The Dark Sky So Shearwaters Fly campaign runs from 19 April to 10 May.
Find out more and get involved here
Quote attributable to Dr Duncan Sutherland, Senior Scientist, Phillip Island Nature Parks
“Working together to give shearwaters a dark sky so they can take off safely is a small thing we can all do to help these fascinating birds start their 15,000km journey to Alaska.”
“Shearwaters are a natural wonder. It’s astonishing to think the parents feed and raise their chicks in burrows, then leave them to fledge on their own and undertake their maiden flight all the way to the other side of the world. Amazingly, millions of shearwater chicks in southern Australia do just that, eventually returning as adults five to seven years later to breed.”
Quote attributable to Greg Johnson, President, Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc
"In the 58 years of Phillip Island Conservation Society’s existence, we have practiced our motto, ‘Save wildlife today, for tomorrow’. Embracing the ‘Dark Sky So Shearwaters Fly’ campaign is a natural for us. We are proud to add our support to help these wildlife long-distance travellers in their epic annual return flights from the southern to the northern hemisphere."
Quote attributable to Beth Liley, Executive Director (Gippsland), Department of Transport and Planning
“This is a remarkable moment in the life of these seabirds, but it can also be one of the most vulnerable. Artificial lighting can disorient young birds as they learn to fly, drawing them away from the ocean and onto roads where they are at risk.”
“By switching off outdoor lights and taking extra care on local roads during this time, our community can play a simple but powerful role in helping these chicks safely begin their incredible journey.”
“We’re proud to work with our partners and the local community through the Dark Sky So Shearwaters Fly campaign to protect this important species and ensure Phillip Island remains a safe place for wildlife.”
