Released 21/09/2017 - Joint media release
The public can now get a fascinating look at Canberra’s little eagle with live streaming from a nesting site in West Belconnen, Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman and Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry announced today.
“It is hoped the cameras set up at the site will provide information on the diet of the little eagle, which is a threatened species in the ACT and NSW,” Minister Gentleman said.
“Funding from the Ginninderry development joint venture has enabled one of the cameras to have live streaming to the internet, meaning anybody can have a look at one of the ACT’s most vulnerable species. Early indications are that, during the current nest repairing stage, the little eagles are most likely to be visiting the nest between 8am and 10am.
“It’s fantastic new technology that can aid the collection of ecological knowledge and enable the community to be engaged as witnesses to the research. Little eagles are a cautious bird and can abandon a nest site if disturbed, particularly at this early stage before a chick is present, so this technology provides a disturbance-free form of public access,” Minister Gentleman said.
Minister Berry said the joint research project is being undertaken by the ACT Government, Institute for Applied Ecology - University of Canberra, CSIRO, and Ginninderry Joint Venture.
“In addition to nest cameras the researchers are utilising leg banding and satellite trackers attached to birds. The research is seeking information on little eagle ecology, including diet, nesting behaviour and breeding and non-breeding habitat ranges, which is required for better understanding and conservation of this species,” Minister Berry said.
“In 2015 a tracker was attached to a male bird who was previously part of a pair that in 2016-2017 and raised a fledgling on the nest that can now be viewed through the live streaming. In March 2017, after the fledgling had left the nest area, the male flew over 3,300 kilometres to spend winter in the Northern Territory, just north of Daly Waters. This bird returned to Ginninderry on 13 August 2017. However, it would appear that another male has been engaged in this year’s nest repair and mating.
A report on the male little eagle’s movements in 2015 -2016 is available on the Ginninderry website, and a report on the more recent activities is currently being prepared.
“In the coming year it is hoped satellite trackers will be attached to additional birds, while the results from the camera footage will also be analysed to help gain a better understanding of the species,” Minister Berry said.
As the researchers are trying to establish the size of the ACT’s little eagle population and where nesting sites occur, the public is also encouraged to report any little eagle sightings via Canberra Nature Map, Ebird, or the Canberra Ornithologists Group’s bird chatline.
See the nesting little eagles online.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases
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