Penny et al
My wife, Jackie and daughter, Isabel, saw three White-bellied Sea-eagles
just above the old tollgates at Berowra (between Cowan and Berowra
Creeks just south of the Hawkesbury) the other day. What was unusual was
two of them engaged in a downward spiraling talon-locking flight. Would
this be territorial (with the third a female) or nuptial? They're seen
fairly regularly in the area as are Wedge-tailed Eagles, Collared
Sparrowhawks, Grey/White Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon and the very
occasional Little Eagle.
Paul
On 25/06/2012 8:05 PM, PennyDB wrote:
Regarding numbers (up or down) of White-bellied Sea-Eagles on the NSW
Central Coast and whereabouts, on a recent trip up the Hawkesbury
River, 5 - 7 May from Brooklyn to Peat's restaurant and beyond, I saw
a pair at Brooklyn, a pair with 2 juveniles opposite Milsons Island
and another pair further up river not far from Borowra.
Perhaps there is an excellent source of prey in the river and the air
- certainly quite a few Silver Gulls around and there were many people
fishing.
Patrick,
A basic rule in ecology is that the prey controls the predator, not
the predator the prey.
In other words: Much prey - good time for the predator.Shortage of
prey - bad time for the predator.
If predators would control their prey, this cycle wouldn't work.
Unfortunately there are exceptions; certain species in man-made or
man-influenced habitat and - of course - man itself...
In other words again: There are White-bellied Sea-eagles around as
long as there is abundance of its prey. It is not the White-bellied
Sea-eagles who reduce their prey - it is us!
I hope the real ecologists out there are not going to punish me for
this very simplified statement!
Cheers,
Nikolas
----------------
Nikolas Haass
Sydney, NSW
________________________________
From: patrick appleton<>
To:
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 4:57 PM
Subject: [Birding-Aus] RE- SEA EAGLE CATCHING SEAGULL IN MID AIR
When Sea Eagles snatch up swan cygnets I momentarily hate them and
threaten to cancel my subscription to Sea Eagle Cam but I had no idea
they'd feed on seagull.
So why then, are there so few Sea Eagles and an abundance of Gulls????
ALSO:
The Black Swan Communal Nesting Site at Paynesville, (Gippsland
Lakes) has its first occupants for this season with 3 nests
occupied. At nest #1 both mum& dad were in the water today and I
saw a white (???????) seabird swoop down and steal an egg and started
eating the yellow contents in about 6 inches of water by the lake
edge. Dad came by and after having a taste of the contents himself,
washed the contents out of the egg shell and threw it into deeper water.
Obviously my first question is, What is the name of the white
seabird that looks like a plain seagull on steroids, (about twice the
size) like a dwarf Albatross ????
Also, why do black swans leave their nests to chastise harmless
juvenile swans yet pay no attention to egg stealing preditors ???
Is it an experience thing? I notice the other two nests are never
left unattended. ===============================
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