Phillip Island Conservation Society

07/09/2026

Today is National Threatened Species Day. Australia has many, many threatened species of plants, animals, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, etc. In fact, we lead the world in mammal extinctions and are fourth in the scale of combined plant and animal extinctions. It is a shameful record. Penguin species are among the threatened species, as pointed out in last week's International Penguin Conference. You can read about some of the speakers and their dire warnings in an online article from the South Gippsland Sentinel Times here: https://www.sgst.com.au/phillip-islands-penguin-talkfest-paints-a-fearful-picture/?fbclid=IwY2xjawULXu5wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7bxSUaOeVTdX7n6f086jzPWHVfNjZNWJrrEoNsOFswNHdYt1SJx-RR0oB_yQ_aem_z5gEucXPLTQMir_FpcjOog

Meanwhile, along with Dr Fiona Fraser, who has the unenviable job of Threatened Species Commissioner for Australia, PICS thanks all researchers and volunteers who are dedicating so much energy into helping threatened species, including here on Phillip Island Milawul.

04/09/2026

PICS congratulates all of the organisers, sponsors, volunteers, presenters and delegates to the International Penguin Conference held this week at Berninneit. A full house in the theatre, plus lots of posters summarising research, either presented on the speakers' program or extra to the program, displayed in the hall and large meeting room, plus lots of food and drink available via Create Catering in the breaks, made for a wonderful event. Many of the delegates also attending the Penguin Parade and had a convivial dinner at the Parade afterwards,

It was certainly amazing to have so many dedicated penguin researchers on the Island for this conference, which began with a Welcome to Country that also featured an opportunity for attendees to place their hand print in clay on a banner, displayed for the conference behind a major penguin predator - the Great White Shark from the Penguin Parade display .

There were also several information stands showing the latest satellite tracking equipment, as well as the sailbouy GPS 'yacht' used by Phillip Island Nature Parks. The Penguin Foundation was also there.

As the FB page of the conference stated:

🪸One theme echoed throughout the conference: penguins are increasingly experiencing the effects of a rapidly changing environment. From marine heatwaves and warming oceans to changing sea ice, extreme weather events and shifting prey availability. Research presented throughout the week highlighted how climate-driven anomalies are becoming more frequent and influential in shaping penguin populations globally.

🔬At the same time, there was plenty of optimism. Delegates shared advances in disease preparedness and HPAI surveillance, AI-powered monitoring, drone technologies, fisheries management, habitat restoration, translocations, genetic conservation and long-term monitoring programs. Together, these innovations are helping conservation organisations better understand threats and respond more effectively.

Photos show the conference logo projected on the side of the venue, Berninneit in Cowes; some views of the research poster displays; volunteers at the Penguin Foundation stand; staff at the satellite tracking display stands; the white pointer shark model with handprint backdrop; the Phillip Island Nature Parks sailbouy GPS sailboat and its solar panel power unit; Create Catering staff hard at work but still managing a smile in the small kitchen prepping the crockery and cutlery for the next meal

03/09/2026

While PICS is by no means supportive of everything "Port of Hastings", we bring to your attention this forthcoming opportunity Saturday September 12, 10 am - 2 pm. provided by the Port of Hastings Corporation to visit the Crib Point site, see the infrastructure and tugs up close, see historical displays and more information about the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, and even visit the nearby Crib Point market on the same day.

POH FB page says:
"You're invited to join us for a day of discovery, celebration and family fun at the Port of Hastings' Stony Point Depot and Jetty.
The Port of Hastings Corporation are opening up our Stony Point Depot and Jetty, and inviting the community to join us for a day of discovery, celebration, and family fun.

Explore our Jetty and Depot, and get an up close look at operational tug boats and port facilities.

See historical displays and learn about the Port’s operations and the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.

Enjoy food trucks, coffee, free ice cream, and a sausage sizzle BBQ.
Make a day of visiting Crib Point, and check out the Crib Point Community Market, up the road at 7 Park Road, Crib Point, between 9 am and 1 pm.

Enjoy activities for all ages, including face painting, Lego building and information displays on the important local environment and history of Western Port.

Guests who register their ticket in advance will also enter in the draw to win a range of prizes. (12 pm draw, winners must be present to accept prizes)

You don't need to register, but if you do, just visit the Port of Hastings FB page for the Eventbrite link.

Free parking, but you could take the ferry. To see the Westernport Ferries time table and costs, go here: https://www.westernportferries.com.au/Prices-Timetable/Timetable

01/09/2026

Happy first day of Spring, and Wattle Day everyone! Maybe not so happy if you react to wattle pollen, but the good thing is that today in every state of this continent there are wattles of some sort blooming. That is a unifying thing. Maybe we need to make Wattle Day our National Day?

From the National Wattle Day website, here's some wattle things for you to find or find out about today:

Find a bird’s nest in a wattle
Find early photos of people celebrating wattle days around Australia from 1910 onwards
Find out how Australian wattles are used around the world today – for land revegetation and for their wood, bark, flowers and seed
Find out how bees use wattle pollen to feed their brood back in the hive
Find out how long wattles can live
Find out the name of the tallest wattle
Find out the names of the different wattles on each of Australia’s five banknotes
Find out the names of wattles that have white, mauve, or red blossoms
Find out the year that wattle was first included on Australia’s Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Find out which medals for Australian honours include wattle in their design
Find out which wattles have foliage you can use to wash your hands – nature’s bush soap.
Find out why wattles are called legumes and how they return nitrogen to the soil
Find sporting clubs that include wattle in the design of their logos
Find wattle songs performed by Australian artists
Find which Australian military badges include wattle in their design

Photos shows
1. l-r: Sallow, Coast, Prickly Moses, Ovens, Late Black wattle (not flowering yet) and Blackwood (tiny buds). From a Phillip Island Milawul garden.
2. A child selling wattles on the street on National Wattle Day, 1935.
3. Stan McFee Snr and his dog Scruffy in 1978 outside the wattle and daub hut he made himself at Rhyll. Such huts were very common.
4. The McFee house in Rhyll-Newhaven Rd as Rhyll Post Office, with a thatched wattle and daub hut.
Both wattle and daub hut photos from collection of Phillip Island & District Historical Society Inc.

29/08/2026

Penguins are not just cute, tough and feisty. They are not just tourist magnets, as for our well-managed Penguin Parade, or the largely uncontrolled and ever-increasing Antarctic cruise industry. Because penguins breed and rest on both land (or ice) and hunt in the sea they are unique barometers of a big range of markers of planet, ocean and biological health.

From tomorrow evening Phillip Island will be hosting the 12th International Penguin Conference IPC 12, mostly at Berninneit. We will have brilliant researchers here from many parts of the world presenting a huge range of penguin research on many species of penguins. The IPC 12 is being hosted jointly by Bass Coast Shire, Phillip Island Nature Parks and Monash University. Some sessions are being sponsored by the Penguin Foundation or the Global Penguin Society.

This is the second time the island has hosted the IPC, which is held every four years. The previous time was in 1992, when we hosted the 2nd conference. A long gap!

The conference home page says:

"Uniting for penguins
2026 THEME: Advancing global research, conservation and action

"The 12th International Penguin Conference (IPC12) is a prestigious event that unites expert scientists, conservationists, environmentalists, students and communities from around the world. Together, we will share groundbreaking research, innovative conservation strategies, and actionable solutions to address the challenges penguins face in a rapidly changing world.

"This conference fosters collaboration across disciplines, ignites meaningful dialogue, and inspires a global movement to protect penguins and the marine ecosystems they call home. Supporting this conference helps translate scientific knowledge into actionable policies and prioritises critical conservation actions."

The program is diverse and full, giving attendees insights into some incredible research, both here and in several other countries. Here is the link to the program:
https://www.penguin-conference.com/registration/

Phillip Island Nature Parks researchers feature on various days.
You can still register to attend. Considering the length and density of the program, the cost of conference attendance is very reasonable. And we don’t have to travel anywhere to attend! If you have an ornithology, biology, zoology, veterinarian, ecology, telemetry student, or any related field in your life who you think would benefit from attending, why not shout them a ticket?

Here’s the link to register as a student, an individual or for a single day: https://www.penguin-conference.com/registration/

Here's the list of themes, and a photo in real evening light of Little Penguins coming out of the sea to cross a rock-pebble beach from the IPC 12 website.

28/08/2026

One bird species to look for before they head north for breeding is the Eastern Cattle Egret, (Ardea coromanda) a species of heron. When here in winter they are strikingly white, but once breeding season starts they grow buff colored chest feathers. A small number of eastern cattle egret have occasionally been seen here over summer in breeding plumage, but not likely to be breeding here.

Cattle egret love to feed in flocks with cows, especially dairy cows, such as the one herd left on Phillip Island at Ventnor, opposite the Anchorage Store. While they like to hang out near water, they are known more as land feeders - mainly in paddocks - than in water bodies that are preferred by their larger egret and heron cousins. In fact, cattle egret have adapted so strongly to paddock feeding with large, mainly hoofed animals, that they have lost the ability to cope with refracted light off water. They just can't see into water bodies very well now.

Sometimes they can be seen feeding where a tractor is towing an implement in the paddock, picking up invertebrates and small animals disturbed by the machinery. But generally they prefer to feed among slow-ish animals, especially cows, who munch away at about 5-15 steps per minute. The proliferation of cattle across much of Australia has encouraged cattle egret to increase their range to and within Australia since mid-20th century. Keep a lookout for them before they leave in the next few weeks or month.

Photo from Wikimedia of a cattle egret with a cow in India, where they are common and where they breed.
By Shijualex at Malayalam Wikipedia. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14899108

26/08/2026

We were fortunate to have a few months rain this winter among over 2 years of dry. Even though the rain has diminished now, some fungus persist. Here are a few examples, though they are mostly succumbing to various creatures tiny and big now. PICS members have seen wallabies eat fungus. Do you have any photos of current fungus? Feel free to share in the comments.

25/08/2026

We are saddened to hear that Phillip Island Nature Parks has been criticized for their massive campaign to vaccinate 5,000 Little Penguins on Phillip Island and 800 at St Kilda against H5N1 avian influenza. This sort of criticism is hugely draining for staff already working long, hard hours to do their best to help our penguins. Not just in the vaccination program, but every day - through habitat restoration, research on land and at sea, education of visitors and constant surveillance of penguin rookeries and of course all of the local wildlife.

The PINP wildlife hospital treats thousands of wildlife, and now has a quarantined section for affected wildlife that may have a chance of recovering. That is part of an all-out effort to protect the many vulnerable species that live here.

Please remember before you are critical and vocal in voicing your own anti-vaccination opinions, that some of these staff members have dedicated their whole careers to helping our wildlife. They have spent decades in the field in all conditions, learning new ways to strengthen our environment, and engaging in hands-on projects aimed at mitigating the almost overwhelming obstacles our wildlife populations face in today's world.

There are undoubtedly many reasons for the massive decline in species throughout Australia. Avian influenza is a relatively new one of them. Because Phillip Island Nature Parks plows its profits back into habitat protection and enhancement, and wildlife conservation, we have been insulated to a large extent from the horrors of mass die-offs occurring in other parts of the continent.

Now is not the time to be critical of the many PINP people who have worked for 30 years to make our island the wildlife haven it is today, and to educate and share that precious haven with millions of visitors.

Please be kind.

To learn more about the vaccination program, please go to the PINP website page here:

We’re taking extra steps to help protect the Phillip Island and St Kilda’s little penguin colonies from H5 avian influenza, also known as bird flu.