Iconic raptor soars in Goulburn Broken skies

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia’s largest eagle. From its wingspan, its size, its nest - everything about the ‘wedgie’ is big.

Goulburn Broken CMA project officer, Janice-Mentiplay Smith, said the Wedge-tailed Eagle was one of Australia’s 24 diurnal (day-active) raptor species.

“The wedgie is probably Australia’s most iconic raptor. It’s found across Australia with its population supported by plentiful rabbit, dead livestock and roadkill dinners and is often seen soaring through the skies around the Goulburn Broken catchment,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.

“As with other birds of prey, it has a characteristic hooked bill and strong talons. Females are larger than males and have a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres.

“Wedge-tailed Eagles mate for life. Breeding pairs are territorial and actively defend their hunting ground and large stick nests. Both parents share in the job of nesting and caring for their chicks.”

Nests are constructed from thick, strong sticks and fresh green eucalyptus leaves that provide cushioning as well as providing insect repelling and antiseptic benefits.

“Their impressive nests can measure two metres across and three metres deep, with one well used nest recorded at weighing around 400 kilograms,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.

“Sticks are added by the wedgie while it’s standing in the nest. If it happens to drop a stick, it makes no effort to retrieve it, which is why piles of dropped sticks 1.8 metres deep have been recorded under nest trees. Coming across a pile of sticks beneath a tree is a great indicator to look skywards and see if you can spot a wedgie nest.

“A breeding pair can have up to 10 different nests within their territory and may use a different nest from year-to-year. So large are the nests, that unbeknown to the Wedge-tailed Eagles, smaller birds will leverage protection from predators and build their tiny nests deep within the underside of the mass of sticks.”  

Although considered the most common of the world's large eagles, the Wedge-tailed Eagle is fully protected in all Australian states and territories.

In the early to mid-1900s a bounty was paid for Wedge-tailed Eagle destruction, as it was believed they killed sheep and lambs. It’s impossible to say how many eagles and other non-target species were killed, but likely in the hundreds of thousands. It is now understood eagles have little real effect on stock numbers and the sheep industry as they predominantly consume dead or sick animals which provides an essential ecosystem service as a ‘clean-up crew’.

“Wedgies are also great pest controllers, as rabbits comprise around 70 per cent of their diet, but in some regions, it is estimated to be around 92 per cent,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.

Today the main threat to the Wedge-tailed Eagle is the loss of habitat and nesting sites, secondary poisoning (eating rabbits that have consumed poison), collision with overhead wires and fences and vehicle strike that can occur when they are eating roadkill.

Bird watching is an enjoyable way to see the Goulburn Broken catchment's beautiful birdlife, including its amazing raptors. Local birding group Murray Goulburn BirdLife meet monthly to conduct outings and enjoy the local environment. The next outing is scheduled for Saturday February 21, meeting at Shadforth Reserve in Violet Town at 9am. For more information contact:  robertsdon680@gmail.com

Learning more about a species and its requirements is a positive first step in helping it and the environment it relies on. BirdLife Australia’s Raptor Group promotes the conservation, management and study of Australia's birds of prey and fosters communication and cooperation among raptor enthusiasts across Australasia. For more information visit  https://ausraptorgroup.org

The Year of the Raptor is supported by the Victorian Government through the Our Catchments Our Communities stewardship program.