The seventh annual report on the study of Little Eagle breeding in the ACT, 2023
A Little Eagle being mobbed by a magpie. Not snow, poplar down.
Rae, S., Hopkins., J, Brawata, R., Wimpenny, C., Davies, M., Stol, J, and Olsen, P. (2024). The breeding success and diet of little eagles in the ACT and nearby NSW in 2023. Canberra Bird Notes 49(1):41-50. (pdf link)
Abstract: In 2023, there was an increase in the number of Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) pairs on territories from the previous year, and the overall breeding success was higher than in all previous years, 0.63 chicks fledged per nesting pair. There was a minimum of five confirmed pairs of Little Eagles with nests in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), two pairs unconfirmed to have nests, and a single female. Two of the ACT pairs raised a chick each. Three nesting pairs were monitored in nearby New South Wales and two of those reared chicks, one of which reared a brood of two. Known causes of failure were wind damage to nests and eggs and breeding adult mortality. Two adult females were possibly killed and eaten by Feral Cats (Felis catus) and one male died of unknown cause. Birds formed most of the prey remains (44%) and Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) was the most frequently taken species. European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) formed (44%) of the prey remains and the other prey (12%) were all Eastern Blue Tongue (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides).
The remains of an adult female Little Eagle in a nest wood. The feathers had been bitten off, the head was seperated and the breast bone had been neatly cleaned of all flesh.
The good news. Confirmation of a new breeding territory in extensive dense forest in Namadgi National Park indicates that Little Eagles do breed there and hunt over continuous canopy. Much of the ACT and nearby NSW is covered with forest, so this needs to be considered in our study of Little Eagle population and habitat use.
The bad news. Deaths of three breeding or potentially breeding adult birds in one breeding season is new to this study. Two of the losses of adult Little Eagles were possibly due to predation by cats, this raises cause for concern.