13 replies to this topic

[Shane V]

The Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle is a subspecies of wedge-tailed eagle in Australia, believed to have been isolated from the mainland for about 10000 years. They are a critically endangered species with only about 1000 birds left in the wild.

The Tasmanian wedge-tail is belived to be the largest of the eagles with a body length between 100 and 110 cm and a wing span of up to 2.2 metres. They can weigh between 3.5 kg and 5.5 kg. The female is bigger than the male. They reach sexual maturity between 4 and 6 years of age.

Juveniles are tawny brown with a blonde nape and dark flight and tail feathers, plumage darkening with successive moults until after 20 years old the birds appear almost black.

Eagles will mate for life and in the right conditions will produce 1 egg per year. They build there nests in eucalypt trees in old growth forests. They construct up to 5 nests within about 200 metres of each other but only use on to nest in.

They feed on rabbits, horses, cats, possums, echidnas, wombats, sheep, goats and reptiles.

They are endangered because of loss of habitat, being disturbed while breeding and they were also poisoned and shot by disgruntled farmers. They also run into power lines and get electrocuted.

If you see an injured or dead eagle please notify National Parks and wildlife as soon as possible.

Thanks to Sim for the Image.

Here is some further reading if your are interested.

[tassiesim]

Margie thanks for that info , its so interesting to learn about our wildlife , love what you did with my Eagle shot , i didnt even know he was a Wedge Tail til I got home and researched him, I think he was looking after a flock of sheep for a farmer down the road.

[Shane V]

I love digging around for the information, and learning about our animals. I'm glad you find the info helpful. Thanks for your comment on what I did to you shot.

[Cascade]

I guess he needs to go here...

Wedge Tail Eagle.... Up close and personal.............

[Shane V]

This is an absolutely beautiful shot Cascade. How close were you? Looks like he/she has had a feed recently?!
Thanks for sharing.

[Mystic]

Gorgeous shot Cascade. I is jealous.

[Hummingbird291]

Wow Cascade, just plain wow! dumbstruck and agreeing with mystic, totally jealous!

[Cascade]

The local eagle pair have produced an eagle baby although it's not so much a baby anymore.

I spotted the family flying directly over head while I was outside doing a few jobs, unfortunately by the time I rushed in and got the camera and telephoto lens they had long gone, its incredible how quickly they can cover a long distance when in flight.
Spotted them an hour or so later to the west high up in a large dead gum tree on a neighbors property. This time I was ready. Although if I had had my 2X converter on they may have been better shots.

One of the parent feeding their baby while the other keeps a lookout.




Baby eagle being dive-bombed by a magpie after the parent birds departed to forage for more food.

[Shane V]

For a big bird they make taking pix so damn hard ...cool captures Cascade

[Cascade]

Thanks Shane... The tree is about a kilometre away.

[Shane V]

That's some nice zoom you got there Cascade

[Mystic]

Great shots, especially considering the distance.

[islandhome]

They are beautiful photos of such a magnificent bird. We had two staying in a tree on our fenceline a few years ago, while eating their way through a sheep that had died... we had so much enjoyment watching them everyday for nearly a week.

[Cascade]

They sure are magnificent creatures and I have spent many hours lying on my back watching them soar on thermals, I hope you managed to get some photos of them while they were on the fence or feeding. You can actually often get quite close to them as they will tend to stay as close as possible to the available food, if you move slowly and quietly in a non threatening manner and sit down close by they will often tend to ignore you once they decide your not a threat and return to the food.