As the sun sets over Settlement Point, thousands of short-tailed shearwaters, affectionately known as muttonbirds, return from a day of feeding far out at sea to their nesting burrows.
These remarkable seabirds travel thousands of kilometres across the Pacific each year, returning to the Furneaux Islands to breed, often reuniting with the same mate.
Each pair raises a single chick before the adults depart on their long migration north in April. Weeks later, the young birds take their first flight, guided by instinct alone.
Best viewing: November to April, around dusk.
The Settlement Point viewing platform offers a wonderful opportunity to witness this extraordinary homecoming. Please stay on designated paths and avoid bright lights to protect the birds and their burrows.