Information from the chatline has been very useful for Jerry
Olsen’s team in monitoring declining Little Eagle numbers. To summarise
the report in the June 2009 CBN, four territories were recorded last season in
the Canberra area: a) the much-reported Dairy Flat pair which nested near
Duntroon; b) the Kambah pair (McQuoid’s Hill); c) Roger
Curnow’s pair almost in NSW (west of Dunlop); d) the lower Molonglo
pair (Pegasus riding school). Any reports of nesting activity in the
coming months of 2009 will be appreciated, directly to me if that is convenient.
Even if a nest cannot be located I am happy to check
out reports of pairs being seen regularly in new places. Towards
the end of last season there were reports of one or more LEs over
Red Hill Nature Park, and these did not fit readily with any known pair.
There is the possibility of a nest at the southern end of the
Red Hill reserve, or perhaps on Mt Mugga or Isaacs Ridge where nesting
attempts have been recorded in the past. (In view of concern about
decline in intra-urban nesting by Canberra’s Wedge-tailed Eagles, any
reports on those would be welcome too. Of course, it is very important
not to linger near any active nests, particularly of wedgies and particularly
when there might be eggs or small young. Even if the parents are not in
view they are quite likely being kept from the nest, which can be fatal.)
