These eye-catching birds are being reintroduced across the south-east of Australia in a bid to restore the species to its historical range. In August 2024, 12 curlews from Mt Rothwell sanctuary were released at Oswin Roberts Reserve on Millowl, Phillip Island. Their release formed part of a trial project in partnership with the Odonata Foundation, ANU and Phillip Island Nature Parks. “These curlews were fitted with GPS trackers, so ANU is able to track and monitor their progress,” says Duncan Sutherland, a senior scientist at Phillip Island Nature Parks. “Bush stone-curlews were last seen here in the 1970s, so we are simply returning this species to where it once lived.”

The Penguin Foundation is proud to be providing funding support for this ground-breaking recovery. The full online article is available to read here: Homeward bound for bush stone-curlews - Australian Geographic