The Penguin Foundation is excited to be offering funding to Phillip Island Nature Parks in their work with partners, Odonata and Australian National University, in the recovery of bush stone-curlews across south-eastern Australia. The overall objective of this collaboration is to reintroduce and increase wild bush stone-curlew numbers, monitor their recovery and secure their long-term future. One of the locations selected is Millowl, Phillip Island, a site that this species once called home, before becoming extinct due to foxes.

An agreement with Odonata Foundation will aim to set out a framework and major areas of focus for cooperation including the recovery plan for the bush stone-curlew, the SEASON program, co-management of wildlife populations, potential joint funding bids and potential co-management of new sites. You can find out more about the Odonata Foundation here.

Nature Parks role:

In 2019, Phillip Island Nature Parks launched a 30-Year Conservation Vision - Beyond the Horizon which recognises the unparalleled opportunity for the organisation to contribute to significant conservation milestones for Victoria through rewilding and protecting threatened species of flora and fauna. Stemming from this is a Threatened Species Plan, which was developed in consultation with key stakeholders representing a diverse range of parties involved in living with and managing threatened species on Philip Island.

This plan looked at current vulnerable species, as well as recovering threatened fauna that were once found on Phillip Island, of which the bush stone-curlew has been recognised as a priority species.

It is important to note that:

• The program will contribute to the overall recovery of the bush stone-curlew in south-eastern Australia through collaborative partnerships with Odonata and ANU. 
• It’s a part of the Nature Parks commitment to recover biodiversity on Phillip Island through implementation of the Threatened Species Plan. 
  The primary outcome is to successfully establish a self-sustaining population of bush stone-curlews to restore ecological function on Phillip Island. 
• It’s a long-term program and is expected to take a long time to see results. 
• This species is difficult to recover. We expect setbacks and challenges along the way, it may not succeed.
• The program cannot succeed without the community’s support and involvement.

Returning the bush stone-curlew to Phillip Island (Millowl) 

In 2019, Phillip Island Nature Parks launched a 30-Year Conservation Vision - Beyond the Horizon which recognises the unparalleled opportunity for the organisation to contribute to significant conservation milestones for Victoria through rewilding and protecting threatened species of flora and fauna. Stemming from this is a Threatened Species Plan, which was developed through a structured decision-making process in consultation with a diverse range of key stakeholders involved in living with and managing threatened species on Phillip Island. 

This plan looked at current vulnerable species, as well as recovering threatened fauna that were once found on Phillip Island (Millowl). The bush stone-curlew was recognised as a priority species. The species was selected as a great candidate for reintroduction to Phillip Island because it would positively benefit the ecosystem and would not pose any threat to stakeholders.

Learn more about the reintroduction by visiting A guide to bush stone-curlews (penguins.org.au) and watching the video below.