The second annual report on the Little Eagle study - 2019

An adult Little Eagle flies low overhead

PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM STUDY OF LITTLE EAGLES IN THE ACT AND NEARBY NSW IN 2018–2019

Rae, S., Wimpenny, C., Mulvaney, M., Davies, M., Fletcher, D., Roberts, D., and Olsen, P.

(2019). Preliminary results from study of little eagles in the ACT and nearby NSW in

2018-2019. Canberra Bird Notes 44: 145-151. Open pdf

Abstract. There was a minimum of nine nesting pairs of Little Eagles (Hieraaetus morphnoides) in the ACT in the 2018/19 breeding season. Seven pairs laid eggs and five pairs successfully fledged a chick each. Two pairs were seen attending nests but were not known to have laid eggs. Four additional breeding pairs were monitored in nearby NSW; single chicks were successfully reared by three of these and one nesting attempt failed. The main prey type was rabbits (61%), then small/medium-sized birds (32%) and lizards (7%). More rabbits and fewer birds and reptiles were eaten in 2018–19 than in 2017–18. Samples of birds’ movements were followed with GPS-satellite transmitters. Adult males ranged mostly within 2-5 km of their nest sites and they left their breeding areas in early March. By April one had flown 2000 km to northern Queensland, one 450 km to Melbourne and another had ranged between 50 km west of the ACT and 100 km to the east. Juvenile eagles stayed mostly within 2 km of their nest sites before they left the area in early March. By April, one juvenile had dispersed 2000 km to Northern Queensland and another 450 km to south-east Victoria, via Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. A juvenile reared in the ACT in 2017 flew to south-east Queensland in its first winter, then to south-east Victoria via South Australia in the following spring and summer.

Flight paths of Little Eagles that dispersed from the ACT post breeding season: 

three adult males (D2, X2 and Z5) and three young birds (B6, D4 and V2). 

The highlight of this year's report was the distribution of the birds out of the breeding season. The above map shows how both young and adult birds dispersed widely across eastern Australia. Click on the link above to read the full report.

Confirmation of Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides migration by satellite telemetry

Publication of the results from a study of the movements of a Little Eagle out of the breeding season using data downloaded from a GPS satellite transmitter fitted to the bird.

Brawata. R., Rae. S., Gruber.B, Reid. S. & Roberts, D. (2019). Confirmation of little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) migration by satellite telemetry. Australian Journal of Zoology, 66(4): 247-250.
https://www.publish.csiro.au/ZO/ZO18060 

Abstract. The post-breeding migration of an adult male little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) was followed from south-eastern Australia to the Northern Territory using a GPS satellite transmitter. The bird bred in open woodland habitat on the edge of the city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), before it flew more than 3300 km in 18 days, to winter in an area of eucalypt savannah in the Northern Territory. It remained there for 59 days, within a range of ~30 km2 , after which the last signal was transmitted. The bird was subsequently resighted back in its ACT territory at the end of winter, thus completing a return migration. This is the first confirmation of post-breeding migration for the species.

Map showing the north western movement of the male Little Eagle from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, to Kalala Station, near Daly Waters in the Northern Territory.

The study group have fitted GPS tags to 13 Little Eagles to date and continue to monitor their movements. Other birds have so far been recorded as far west as the York Peninsula in South Australia around eastern parts of New South Wales and Queensland, then north as far as the Cape York Peninsula.

Acknowledgment to J Olsen who helped by catching and tagging the first bird followed in this study.

The first annual report by the group on the breeding ecology of Little Eagles - 2018

A young male Little Eagle, recently fledged in the ACT.

NOTES ON THE BREEDING ECOLOGY OF LITTLE EAGLES IN THE ACT IN 2017/2018

Rae, S., Fletcher, D., Mulvaney, M., Davies, M., Roberts, D., and Olsen, P. (2018). Notes

on the breeding ecology of Little Eagles in the ACT in 2017/2018. Canberra Bird

Notes 43: 186-193. Open pdf

Abstract. This is a preliminary summary of findings from the first year of a long-term study of the Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) in and near the ACT. There was a minimum of nine nesting pairs in the ACT in the 2017-2018 breeding season. Six pairs laid eggs and four chicks were reared; one from each of two nests and two from another. Three pairs were seen with nests but were not known to have laid eggs. Pairs were observed at two other locations and the public reported five further potential breeding locations in the ACT. Two additional nests were located in nearby NSW; a chick was reared in one nest and the other nesting attempt failed. Nests were regularly spaced, and found in woodland, partially cleared woodland or a windbreak. Nesting eagles did not appear to avoid or prefer to be near various urban features. The main prey type was small/medium-sized birds, although the most eaten individual species was Rabbit, and lizards were also taken.

This was a short report on the initial findings of the study, a baseline upon which to build the on-going project. As such, it determined an initial sample of Little Eagle pairs, territories and habitats to monitor in the study. Click on the link above to read the full report.