Swan Bay (Victoria)

Infobox_Ocean
Ocean_name = Swan Bay
image_Ocean = Swan bay map.pngcaption_Ocean = Map of Swan Bay
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
coords = coord|38|13|S|144|39|E|type:bay_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title
type = Saline, Permanent, Natural
inflow = Yarram Creek, Frederick Mason Creek
outflow = Port Phillip
catchment =
basin_countries = Australia
length = Unknown
width =
area = convert|30|km2|sqmi|abbr=on
depth = convert|2|m|abbr=on
max_depth = convert|5|m|abbr=on
volume = Unknown
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|0|m|abbr=on
islands = Swan Island, Duck Island, Sand Island
islands_category =
cities = Queenscliff, St Leonards
reference =

Swan Bay is a shallow, 30 km² marine embayment at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia. The township of Queenscliff lies at its southern end, and St Leonards at its northern. It is partly separated from Port Phillip by Swan Island, Duck Island and Edwards Point. Most of the area is included in the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park as well as being listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention as part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site.Parks Victoria. (2006). "Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park Management Plan". Parks Victoria: Melbourne. ISBN 0-7311-8349-5] Matthew Flinders named the bay "Swan Ponds" after its Black Swans, up to 2,700 of which can be seen in summer and early autumn.

Ecology

Swan Bay contains a variety of ecosystems that make it environmentally important for waterbirds and migratory waders. These include saltmarsh, intertidal mudflats and vast seagrass beds on which, almost everything living in the bay relies on for food. Although much of the surrounding land is farmland, some remnant woodland survives in the adjoining Edwards Point Nature Reserve and Swan Bay. The bay has been recognised as having international importance and the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park almost entirely occupies the bay.

Nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded in swan bay. Birds of conservation significance for which the bay and its shore are internationally important include the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot as well as Little Tern, Fairy Tern, Eastern Curlew, Lewin's Rail and White-bellied Sea-eagle. It also supports over 1% of the Australian population of four wader species: Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Double-banded Plover and Eastern Curlew.Barter, Mark; Campbell, Jeff; & Lane, Brett. (1988). "Swan Bay: Conservation of Birds". RAOU Report No.50. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne.] Other birds found in the region include the Australian Pelican, Silver Gull, Royal Spoonbill, Caspian and Crested Terns, White-fronted Chat, Sacred Ibis, Red-necked Stint, Little Pied Cormorant and Pied Oystercatcher. Some of these birds travel from as far away as arctic Siberia and Alaska where they breed, to feed on the intertidal mudflats of Swan Bay.

Geography

Swan Bay lies at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia. It is partly separated from Port Phillip by Swan Island, Duck Island and Edwards Point.

Islands

* Swan Island
* Sand Island
* Duck Island
* Rabbit Island
* Stingaree Island
* Tip Island
* Mangrove Island

Recreation

Recreation in the bay mainly revolves around sightseeing activities such as sea kayaking, scuba diving, bird watching and various wildlife tours. Boating is limited in Swan Bay, particularly around Swan Island and in Stingaree Bight, there is a 5 knot speed limit and many areas of the bay become very shallow at low tide.

Myths

There is supposedly a treasure hidden in a cave on the southern shoreline of Swan Bay. The myth revolves around the pirate Benito "Bloody Sword" Bonito, who raided the west coast of the Americas. His career began around 1818 but from there on sources differ, according to one legend his ship was boarded by a British man-o'-war after Bonito exited Port Phillip after hiding a treasure in Swan Bay, aparently the so called "Lost Loot of Lima", sometime in 1821. He was subsequently given a trial and hanged.

References

* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=268] Swan Bay - Port Phillip Heads National Park (Marine)

* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sbea/html/aboutswanbay.html] Swan Bay (Birds)

External links

* [http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sbea/ Swan Bay Environment Association]