Wedge-tailed Eagles

[Stephanie Haygarth <>]

Re WTEs, the attached pic shows a WTE nest right next to the Centennial Trail between North Mulligans and the camping area on the way to One Tree.  The tree is so close it can be touched if you stand on the track.  Given WTE's well known reactions to disturbance during nesting, is anyone in COG aware of any discussion that took place when the track was being planned/built?  Perhaps members know of the nest and can advise whether or not it was already obsolete/abandoned by the time the track was conceived.

Matthew Higgins

On 04/07/2015, at 1:55 PM, Geoffrey Dabb wrote:

Below is the WTE seasonal reporting rate as shown on the COG website.  The usual cautions are appropriate, in particular that remote sites are likely to be more subject to ‘serious’ counts, and small area surveys eg 2ha and the GBS are unlikely to record this species, which is so obvious if reporting (as in chatline obs) is about a view across several kms of skyspace.  It seems clear enough that the species is present year round.  Proportionately to other species it is less likely to be recorded in the suburbs, and indeed it rarely overflies built-up areas.  However, it can often be seen over the larger wooded expanses even reserves in between the suburbs, some of which have a history of nests.   There are at least 2 and possibly 4 or more breeding pairs around Canberra.  There were at least 2 fledgings of single young last season, one nest being visible from Mugga Lane.  It is probable that last season’s young are staying around for a few months before drifting off.  Adults are unlikely to be far from nesting territories throughout the year, although the feeding range could cover several kms.    As to the wind, I haven’t noticed this myself, but I suppose flying birds would cover a larger area if it is very windy.  You seem to notice more seagulls in windy weather.

 

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From: Mark Clayton [ 
Sent: Saturday, 4 July 2015 12:19 PM
To: 
Subject: [canberrabirds] Wedge-tailed Eagles

 

I think everyone is missing the blindingly obvious reason why people are seeing so many Wedge-tailed eagles of late – it is close to their breeding season and the birds are setting up their territories. Most eagles locally will be on eggs in August so now is the time to mark out your territory, and if you don’t already have a mate, to find one. There are enough reference books on the local birds to have checked this out. I’m not too sure about this using the wind theory although I’m sure they do use it at times.

 

Mark