The Spotted Harrier is featured this month in the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s 2026 Year of the Raptor community awareness campaign.
Spotted Harrier in flight. Photographer - Jenny Younger
Raptors are birds of prey and includes Australia’s two species of harrier – the Spotted Harrier and the Swamp Harrier.
Goulburn Broken CMA project officer, Janice Mentiplay-Smith, said the long-legged, medium-sized Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) could be seen flying low and slow around the Goulburn Broken catchment’s open woodlands, grasslands and cropping areas.
The Spotted Harrier sports an owl-like facial disc with a narrow ruff that gives it the appearance of having a short, stubby head
Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.
“Its facial disc is not just for good looks; this circle of stiff feathers helps to direct the sounds of scurrying prey to its ears.
“Spotted Harriers can also raise or lower these feathers, which helps to further funnel tiny sounds made by potential prey to their sharp ears. As well, it has long legs that are perfectly designed for swooping and seizing small prey.”
Spotted Harriers use sticks and twigs to build their shallow platform-like nest on a horizontal branch, with the female undertaking most of the construction. Once built, she lines it with eucalypt leaves which is a common practice of raptors as the antiseptic properties of eucalyptus helps keep the germs at bay. The male supplies freshly caught prey to feed hungry chicks.
As cropping areas have a ready supply of rodents, the Spotted Harrier pair will often nest close to a cropping paddock. Rabbits, lizards and small ground birds are also hunted. Spotted Harriers prefer their food fresh and will rarely eat carrion – the decaying flesh of dead animals.
“Never one to let an opportunity go by, it hunts by ‘quartering’ an area, whereby it systematically flies low over the ground, keeping a sharp eye open for anything that moves. It will also take advantage of fenceposts as a handy look-out point,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.
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 meets monthly for outings and to enjoy the local environment. On Saturday March 21 the group is going to Lake Cooper, Corop. For more information contact: robertsdon680@gmail.com
Spotted Harrier on a fencepost. Photographer - Photograph by Ros King
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.