Journal article

Modelling human impacts on the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax fleayi)

Sarah A Bekessy, Brendan A Wintle, Ascelin Gordon, Julian C Fox, Ryan Chisholm, Bill Brown, Tracey Regan, Nick Mooney, Steve M Read, Mark A Burgman

BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2009

Abstract

The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world. Aquila audax fleayi is an endemic Tasmanian subspecies isolated for 10,000years from the nominate subspecies on the Australian mainland. The Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle is classified nationally and at a State level as endangered due to its small number of breeding pairs, low breeding success and high rate of mortality from unnatural causes. The subspecies experiences mortality throughout its range from shooting, poisoning, trapping, road accidents, electrocutions and collisions with wind turbines, aircraft, fences and overhead wires, which we term ‘un-natural mortality'. A portion of the s..

View full abstract