Swan Bay located at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula
is one of the region’s most important eco systems regarded as
having international significance. The 30 square kilometre
shallow marine embayment lies between St Leonards to the North
and Queenscliff to the South makes up part of the Port Phillip
Heads Marine National Park. The bay was originally called Swan
Ponds and was named by explorer Matthew Flinders who was amazed
by the large numbers black swan found in the waters. The black
swan is only one of a number of important species found in the
bay there the list of bird life is stunning with waders,
seabirds and the orange bellied parrot which is one of the
rarest birds in Australia with its name on the Critically
Endangered list and an estimated 50 birds still alive in the
wild. There are countless species of birds on the bay but
pelicans, gull, spoonbill, sandpipers, oyster-catchers, terns
and various species or duck are quiet common sights. Birds of
prey like owls, eagles and hawks are also co