Recording a rare fledgling little eagle's journey from its nest at West Belconnen shows Canberra's urban sprawl is forcing the vulnerable species from the ACT, says ecologist and birds of prey specialist Jerry Olsen.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But proponents of a new housing development say more research is needed on the little eagles nesting.
Mr Olsen said ACT authorities were alerted in 2005 to the collapse of breeding little eagles, from at least a dozen pairs to only three pairs recently.
Mr Olsen and friends colour-banded and radio-tagged the nestling little eagle in November, 2014, from near Strathnairn in West Belconnen. He is drawing attention to his findings following the ACT Government's approval of re-zoning the land at West Belconnen for development of 6500 homes .
After the little eagle fledged, researchers followed it from a safe distance for about two months. At first the little eagle spent most of the time in favourite roosting trees in the day time and other preferred trees at night, moving further and further from the nest.
The bird's early flights, and learning to soar on thermals and hunting attempts were observed, and its parents delivering prey, at one point 3.57 kilometres north of the nest tree.
Mr Olsen has previously warned that housing at O'Malley and Gungahlin Hill would force out breeding pairs of little eagles, and said that subsequently happened.
"The housing development planned for Strathnairn will destroy the foraging area used by this pair and possibly cause the abandonment of yet another little eagle territory in the ACT," Mr Olsen said.
West Belconnen joint venture development manager David Maxwell said little eagles were wide ranging, and more knowledge was needed on their nesting frequency.
Mr Maxwell said in late December, 2013, evidence was provided of a pair of little eagles nesting on the project site in the vicinity of Strathnairn. The little eagle had not been recorded in any of the earlier surveys, although it was known on nearby sites at Molonglo.
"Consultation with ACT Conservation led to the preparation of a report specifying measures to ensure the protection of the eagle nest site, including protection of the foraging area and a 200m clearance zone around the nest site itself," Mr Maxwell said.
Mr Maxwell said protecting the little eagle was important, and more work was underway by ACT researchers and the CSIRO. "I think Jerry [Olsen] should join our working group," Mr Maxwell said.
In June the Canberra Times reported environmentalists' fears the vulnerable eagle species will disappear from the ACT when the CSIRO allows developers onto its large research field station in Canberra's north-west.
Mr Olsen said small buffer zones to protect little eagle nesting sites were of little use.
"They don't consider the size of the whole home range and how eagles move nests sites as far as 5 km within a breeding home range. Buffers may stop some disturbance for a short time, but free developers to destroy foraging habitat and areas for alternative nests, so the eagles eventually abandon the area."
