Where? Where? Wedgie! 2018 Day 16 : 16-05-2018

Cape Barren Island served up more eagles today and a few very interesting finds closer to ground level too.

This morning the truwana rangers and the studnets took us to see a White bellied sea eagle nest not far up the road from the school. As we hopped along the granite coastline a cry went up that a sea eagle was perched on the next headland. It’s bright white front is the best way to separate it from a Wedgie but it is also a huge bird. 

Fiona made a find of a nearly complete skeleton of a sea eagle just behind the beach. It is hard to be sure but it could have been a young fledgling from the nest that wasn’t too far away. James explained how even one of the biggest bones, the femur, is very light compared to a mammal (like us). 

The students went back to school and we went for an explore along the southern coastline with the rangers. Before we’d far a Wedgie was spotted by Fiona perched in the crown of a tea tree. It’s head and shoulders were visible against the skyline and as we approached it flew away. It was an area of open grassland which looked like a good hunting ground. 

The island is much bigger than a glance at the map suggests and it becomes more rugged and untracked along the southern and eastern shorelines. As we drove another Wedgie was spotted flying over a bay and sea eagles seemed to appear over every new horizon. Eagle mad!

Colin, a trowuna ranger, found some aboriginal artefacts and explained how the flake would probably have been expertly chipped off a cutting tool. If you find aboriginal artefacts it’s important not to take them or disturb them. 

James was keen to stay on the island longer but we’re continuing our Wedgie investigations at a wind farm tomorrow so we had to fly back to Bridport. Thanks for the wedge-tastic tome on truwana/Cape Barren Island team. 

Today’s t-shirt winner is 4/5MW for the nest creation- simply fabulous.