Swan and Sand Island habitat protection
Swan Island, Victoria

Swan Island's natural vegetation includes areas of coastal scrub, relict patches of coastal woodland and extensive areas of saltmarsh. Sand Island contains saltmarsh-fringed lagoons bordered by colonising shrubs and grasses on newly formed dunes.

Sand Island is connected to Swan Island via an accreting beach which forms an important high tide roosting area for the migratory waders that feed on the Swan Bay mudflats at low tide, while the lagoons are much used by black swans and other waterbirds.

The islands are part of the Swan Bay and Port Phillip Bay Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by Birdlife International because of its importance for orange-bellied parrots, waders and seabirds. The saltmarsh serves as one of the orange-bellied parrots few regular wintering sites.

Join us to help remove invasive weeds and preserve this important area - in particular we will be targeting Sea Spurge which is a big problem because each plant can produce up to 5000 salt-tolerant seeds that wash onto the beaches of Australia’s south-eastern coastline. This means it can quickly take over, covering open sand flats that are important for feeding and nesting of native birds.

We will provide transport from South Geelong, departing at 8.15am and returning around 4pm. Volunteers need to bring their lunch and a bottle of water, as well as wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots or sturdy shoes. It is also recommended that volunteers bring and use a broad-brimmed hat, sun-screen (30+) and insect repellent.