Crested Terns at the Nobbies

Summer is a great time to watch birds along the coast of Phillip Island. It is breeding season for seabirds such as Crested Terns, Seagulls and Pacific Gulls; the rookeries at The Nobbies and Seal Rocks are very busy with nesting birds.

The Crested Tern colony at The Nobbies (Point Grant) on the southwesterly point of Phillip Island is home to 3000+ birds, being the largest rookery in Victoria. These terns breed here between October and December.

When you visit the area ensure you spend some time watching the busy parents tend to their hungry chicks. One parent will stay with the young fluffy chicks, while the other hunts for fish. You can see them flying back to the colony, bringing fish in their beak. The chicks can swallow small pilchards whole!

Crested terns are also found on Seal Rocks at other times of the year, where they roost on the rocky ledges in very large numbers. Lucky for these birds, they are not part of the Fur Seal’s diet!