AR-News: (AU) Majestic eagles are thriving at Wyangala

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Wednesday, 30 June  2004

The Wyangala region's Wedge-tailed  Eagle population is strong, reflecting a 
diverse local ecology, according to  local farm manager and activist, Matthew 
Land.

Mr Land remarked on the  existence of numerous nests on different properties 
in the area. 

"This  is a positive indication that, despite recent reports of a Central 
West  population decline, there are still areas in which they are thriving,” he  
said.

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the southern hemisphere's largest bird of  prey and 
requires nesting sites for reproduction that are in limited supply due  to 
many different pressures such as habitat destruction and feral  cats.

An eagle's nest consists of a large platform of sticks in the fork  or 
extended limbs of large, wind sheltered trees. 

In the first year out  of the nest Juvenile eagles have a mortality rate of 
50-80 per cent; in good  years they may rear two chicks but only the fittest 
are likely to survive.  

Drought effected eagle territories will cause the birds to stop  reproduction 
for several years.
 
The 'Wedges' have previously been considered  vermin because of its 
reputation as a lamb and sheep killer. 

The  majority of an eagle's diet originally consisted of native mammals and 
reptiles  such as small koalas, possums, kangaroos, wallabies, snakes and  
lizards.

Due to reduction or extinction of these native food sources,  their staple 
food is now the rabbit, consisting of about 200 a year, which are  utilised as 
an energy snack in between hunting larger prey. 





full  story:
_http://cowra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=g
eneral%20news&story_id=317456&y=2004&m=6_ 
(http://cowra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=317456&y=2004
&m=6)  



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It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to  call an animal dumb because 
it is dumb to his dull senses. - Mark  Twain
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>' .' <

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