What one person (or even a family) sees on one season is
subject to a lot of random variation. I certainly am not seeing them any less
than usual, even though I don’t get out as much as before. But I would
suggest the broader picture is that evidence
is that the Wedge-tailed Eagle is doing remarkably well in the Canberra area. There
is credible concern about the local status of the Little Eagle though.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Layton
[
Sent: Saturday, 17 January 2009 9:45 PM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Less
Wedge-tailed Eagle sightings?
"The Wedge-tail
population west of Canberra has diminished somewhat," Linda announced
while cooking barbeque for dinner.
"I've also noticed
this phenomena," Junior, who never recognises the singular form of the
word, put in.
"Why," I asked,
"because none was sighted over Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania during the fall
migration?"
"Don't be
silly!" BBQ-brat snapped.
"It's a
grave environmental concern," Junior said, swiping a slice of cooked
eggplant and getting her paw smacked in the process.
Seems the revelation is
based on the fact that on a number of occasions during the spring and
summer of 2006/07 & 2007/2008 we were often alerted by a cacophony of
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and, if we hurried outside, and scanned the skies,
saw a large raptor – usually identifiable as a Wedge-tailed Eagle
– loafing along. But, so far during the current seasons, this
hasn't occurred.
I don't know if anything of concern could be read into this meagre
observation. Any comments?
