Where? Where? Wedgie! 2018 Day 10 : 10-05-2018

There are a number of threats to eagles from human activity. We’ll look at others in the weeks ahead but today James highlights the danger for eagles on the road.

Coming down from the Central Plateau it was clear that the weather had turned. At about midnight the wind picked up and I wondered if my tent site under a leaning gum tree was the safest choice. The rain held off as we packed up camp and scoffed some muesli. As you rise up from sea level the air temperature gets colder. In Tasmania you can lose as much as 0.5-1 degrees per 100 meters in elevation. Why?

Down on the lower plains it didn’t feel a lot warmer to be honest but we went back to check the exact location of Ethan and Enid. Ethan checked in at 9am and we could just see him sitting in a dead tree in the distance across a paddock. He moved over a row of pine trees and we didn’t spot him again. 

Further down the road Enid we stopped to do a series of test surveys in Enid’s territory but with the wind and drizzle didn’t expect to see a lot of action. Right at the end of a survey three Wedgies soared low over the hill. James could see through the binoculars that the adult male was giving the young bird a hard time. He was dive bombing and screeching at the juvenile in an angry display. It made James wonder if it was Enid or another juvenile in her territory. Or was it the parents beginning the process of kicking Enid out of their territory? Do adult eagles actively push their young away or do the young decide to go on their own without a shove? Or is it a combination or something else happening? Science through observations and collecting information can help answer questions like this. 

On four repeat surveys in Enid territory we only observed the eagles once. The weather does seem to have a large influence on whether the eagles take to the sky. From our journey so far the sunny days are better for eagle spotting.

We’re heading back down to the Tasman Peninsula tomorrow for a very special visit with wildlife rehabilitator Ange Anderson. If we’re lucky we’ll get to show you a Wedgie up close.

Well done to all the students having a go on the discussion boards, James has just got his own log in so he’ll start to reply directly. You’ll also see Clare Hawkins popping in with answers and comments too. Clare is buzzing around the state on her own adventure at the the moment delivering workshops before the survey. At the workshops she is being helped by raptor experts Nick Mooney, Peter Vaughan, Pete Tonelli and John Bowden. Go to www.naturetrackers.com.au to see if they’re coming to a place near you. 

Today’s t-shirt winner is 2 Holstrom for adding to the discussion about colouration in a thoughtful way.