Flora & FaunaBirdsWedge-tailed Eagles nesting at Pinkerton Forest

Wedge-tailed Eagles nesting at Pinkerton Forest

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In September 2012 a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were observed at the site where a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles had successfully nested in 2007.

On Sunday 9th September 2012 PLEG members were checking on the progress of sheep grazing in Pinkerton Forest.  The sheep had previously spent a week or so grazing in Lower Pinkerton Forest. We saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle take off from the ground near the old nest site, hotly harassed by magpies.

Sunday 9th September 2012

In September 2012 a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were observed at the site where a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles had successfully nested in 2007.

On Sunday 9th September 2012 PLEG members were checking on the progress of sheep grazing in Pinkerton Forest.  The sheep had previously spent a week or so grazing in Lower Pinkerton Forest. We saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle take off from the ground near the old nest site, hotly harassed by magpies. We walked into the forest checking on grazing results. The sheep had eaten much of the young green annuals while avoiding the natives that flowered last year. Just what they were meant to do. Excellent results in fact.

 

We found ourselves under the old Wedge-tailed Eagles' nest, noting the amount of whitewash beneath it. A pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles had successfully nested here in 2007. After about five minutes there was a loud flapping sound and a huge black female Wedge-tailed Eagle took off from the nest! The female bird had allowed us to walk to beneath the nest tree and remained there for about five minutes as we stood beneath. We had both observed the nest as we approached but there was no bird visible. We immediately left the forest, to hopefully avoid disturbing the birds further and hoping we had not driven them from the nest.

The circumstance of the Wedge-tailed Eagle allowing us to approach a nest tree, and then remain for some time before flying off, was odd to say the least. Very strange that she stayed on the nest as we walked into the forest. She must have been sitting on eggs as we approached. When the original pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles nested here in 2007 they would leave the forest as soon as we entered the lane from Mt Cottrell Road, over a kilometer away! Perhaps this bird was used to the farmer regularly checking on the sheep. There didn’t seem to have been any changes or additions to the old nest; it looked the same as it had for several years. The lambs were quite large and the presence of the nesting eagles would have been of no consequence to the sheep grazing below.

As we were driving back along the lane, we could see both birds had returned and were circling around the nest area.

Western Water management and Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group were notified so that arrangements could be made to avoid disturbing their nesting. Peter Gibbons (Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group’s bird expert) and William Rajendram (Western Water Environmental Engineer) almost immediately replied stating that we hold a meeting at the earliest opportunity to develop a protocol/ procedure concerning forest management, given the presence of the birds. William suggested this meeting should also include the environmental contractor.