Shearwaters: Masters of the Ocean Sky

Every summer, Phillip Island becomes home to one of nature’s most impressive travellers, the Short-tailed Shearwater, or muttonbird. These sleek seabirds return from an epic migration to the Aleutian Islands off Alaska and across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

From September to April, shearwaters breed in sand dune burrows on our coast. In December and early January, pairs take turns guarding a single egg. All chicks hatch within a 10-day window in late January, allowing for synchronised feeding and development.

Parents feed their chick a rich, oily mix of krill and seafood, packed with energy to sustain them on their first ever flight to the Northern Hemisphere in April.

Facts about these ocean navigators:

Wingspan: 90cm

Weight: 550g

Lifespan: 20–25 years

Longest distance travelled in one year: 260,000km!

Still So Much to Discover

Though adults are well tracked, where fledglings go during their first years at sea remains a mystery. Researchers are also studying whether these birds can adapt to changes in krill availability due to climate shifts.

How Can You Help?

Short-tailed Shearwaters are loyal to their burrows, often returning to the same nest year after year.

To protect them:

• Avoid dune areas during breeding season
• Reduce plastic use to prevent ocean pollution
• Choose bubbles over balloons, marine debris is often mistaken as food

These birds connect continents and ecosystems. By looking after our local coastline, we help support one of the most remarkable migrations on earth.

Join us on a bay cruise this season to see where these remarkable birds nest, and witness the large flocks soar after sunset.