Biology of the Little Eagle on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

Abstract

SUMMARYDEBUS, S.J.S. 1984. Biology of the Little Eagle on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Emu 84: 87–92.The diet and breeding biology of the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides were investigated at Armidale, New South Wales in 1980. Data were supplemented by the RAOU Nest Record Scheme. Little Eagles took a wide range of vertebrate prey species in the breeding season. Prey items recorded at three nests consisted, by number, of about 60% mammal, 25% bird and 15% lizard and these figures agreed closely with the percentage occurrence of these prey types in pellets (c.55% mammal, 25% bird and 20% lizard). Active nests were in living trees in patches of woodland. The ratio of two-to single-egg clutches was about 2:1. The incubation period was 36 to 40 days, and males shared incubation. The nestling period was about nine weeks, and the post-fledging dependence period appeared to last at least six weeks. The breeding cycle occupied about four months from nest building to fledging, and, for the district, about five months (August-January). Fledging success was about 0.5 young per pair per year, and about one in six successful nests raised two young. Breeding density was at least one pair per 1600 ha. Prey taken from each home range in the six-month breeding season was estimated at 120 young lagomorphs (48 kg), 50 birds (3 kg) and 30 lizards (4 kg).