Birds with backpacks released on Phillip Island

Twenty-four bush stone-curlews will be reintroduced to the wild on Phillip Island (Milawul) as part of a landmark project involving researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) to help the species regain a foothold in Victoria, where it is critically endangered.

It comes after the success of an initial trail release which saw 12 birds fitted with tiny GPS-tracking backpacks and identification bands released on Phillip Island.

The trial has recorded a 75 per cent survival rate – one of the best outcomes for the species at this stage of a reintroduction.

ANU PhD researcher Paula Wasiak said the team now has evidence the birds can thrive in the area.

“We’re set to release around 24 more birds,” she said.

“This next phase will allow us to test the best strategies and tactics for successfully reintroducing the birds into rural-urban environments. It will give us crucial data on how the birds survive and use the landscape.

“We’ll monitor their movements with the GPS trackers, undertake field health checks, and use acoustic recorders and remote cameras to keep an eye on any threats and understand how the birds adapt to their new environment.”

The bush stone-curlew, which is also listed as endangered in South Australia and New South Wales, is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal bird, known for its eerie high-pitched call.

Phillip Island was once home to a wild population of the birds, however, there has been no record of them on the island since the 1970s.

Senior Scientist at Phillip Island Nature Parks, Dr Duncan Sutherland, said Phillip Island is an “ideal” location for the reintroduction given its fox-free status since 2017.

“This eliminates one the biggest threats to the bush stone-curlews,” he said

“If successful, the reintroduction will demonstrate how we can work together to recover species from extinction and return them to their natural ecological roles across south-eastern Australia.”

The study is a collaboration between ANU, Phillip Island Nature Parks and Odonata Foundation.

The community can play an important role in the program’s success by reporting any sightings at www.inaturalist.org or by emailing community@penguins.org.au.

The program is also supported by the Penguin Foundation and Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment.

Donations to support the bush stone-curlew reintroduction on Phillip Island can be made at penguinfoundation.org.au.