THE Advocate’s Nature Diary columnist Tanya Loos had a close encounter with a beautiful “mini-eagle”, known as the little eagle, in Taradale recently.
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She says the stocky birds mate for life and carry out intricate aerial displays to seal their bond, including the unusual “talon presentation” where they flip around in mid-air and touch each other’s feet.
THE wedge-tailed eagle, or wedgie as it is also affectionately called, is a familiar sight in the Hepburn area.
But what about the wedgie's closest relative, the aptly named little eagle?
Often mistaken for a hawk or a falcon, the little eagle is about the size of a raven.
I got my best ever views of this stocky 'mini-eagle' in Taradale last week.
Driving slowly along a back country road, I could see up ahead there was a bird of prey perched on a freshly road-killed hare.
The hare was right on the road and on the driver's side.
As I drove past at walking pace the eagle stared at me, refusing to leave his or her prize.
I could tell it was a little eagle because, unlike a perched goshawk or brown falcon, the little eagle has feathered legs or trousers.
Both wedgies and little eagles have these feathered trousers, and thus they are also known as booted eagles.
Little eagles come in two colour forms, pale and dark.
This one was a beautiful, light morph eagle; a pale golden tawny colour with brown highlights and fierce amber eyes that were to die for.
As I drove away marvelling at the experience, a young man in a tiny purple car zoomed past me at full speed in the direction of the eagle and hare.
Better get that hare off the road!
As I got back the little eagle was still perched resolutely on the hare.
A larger car or truck could sweep the bird into its updrafts, or a careless driver could just mow over the both of them.
So I pulled the hare off the road onto the grassy verge while the eagle watched from a nearby tree.
I would have loved to stay to see if the eagle returned to the hare but the neighbours nearby were leaving their houses and I felt there was a bit too much disturbance around already.
Pulling road kill off the road is always a good thing to do – once you have ensured it is safe to do so, of course!
It is very sad, and very gory sometimes but well worth it for a few reasons.
You ensure no more animals need die unnecessarily – ravens, eagles and other scavenging animals get killed eating road kill.
Many bird species show very strong bonds with their mate or young, and will stay on the road trying to revive their loved one. But this often gets themselves killed in the process.
I have seen this behaviour in two duck species, white-winged choughs, galahs, and long-billed corellas. It is simply heartbreaking!
Finally, pulling the dead animal off the road allows you to check for surviving young such as joeys who may need medical attention and foster care at your local wildlife shelter.
Back to the little eagle.
The eagle may have been reluctant to leave his hare as it is the beginning of the egg laying season for these lovely birds.
Little eagles pair for life.
They cement their pair bond with beautiful aerial displays that involve synchronised soaring, and diving in special undulating movements.
This also includes 'talon presentation' where they flip around in mid-air and touch each others' feet.
I would like to see that!
So if you hear an excited, loud two or three note whistle call these next few months– take a look up.
It could be one of the world's smallest eagles – the little eagle.