Supplementary notes on the breeding behaviour of Wedge-tailed Eagles 'Aquila audax'

Abstract

Aspects of territorial and courtship displays, breeding behaviour, nest defence and reaction to human disturbance are described for the Wedge-tailed Eagle 'Aquila audax' in parts of southern Australia. Included are a description of a display by a pair that flagged the site of a future nest, and an account of nest abandonment after a focal dead tree in the nesting territory, near the nest-tree, was removed. The latter incident suggests that such focal perching trees, in addition to the nest-tree, might be a component of territory quality. However, the Eagle is notoriously sensitive to disturbance, especially early in the nesting cycle.