Raptors are birds of prey, bird species that hunt and feed off other animals, often other smaller birds, mammals and lizards. Raptors tend to have incredible eyesight, have skilful flight capabilities, and sharp talons and beaks.
At night-time on Bruny, particularly in the forested areas, you can listen closely and often hear the call of the Boobook owl.
The Boobooks have been going off in the dry sclerophyll forests of late. At night you can hear their classic “boo-book” call to each other. Often several Boobook owls can be heard at once at a distance from each other – marking each other’s position through their haunting call through the forest. This is a natural way to help them hold and maintain their hunting grounds.
Hobbys and Peregrine falcons, which are small very fast falcons, can often be seen at the neck. Hobbys are one of the only raptors that can do true geostatic hovering – an ability to be poised mid-air whilst waiting for the moment to strike their prey.
One favourite raptor moment on Bruny Island was an occasion where I saw a white color-morph Goshawk take down a small brown bird near Cloudy Bay. Diving at an incredible speed towards a small brown bird on the forest line – it flared up just before the forest, then dropped down straight onto the bird. I could almost hear the brown bird’s last breath.
One day, I was cleaning up roadkill on Cloudy Bay road – when I could see a Sea Eagle approaching at speed towards me and the roadkill. Whilst watching this beautiful sea eagle, a Wedge-tailed Eagle then came from nowhere at twice the speed, underneath the Sea Eagle. It then, mid-air, inverted and grabbed the Sea Eagle with its talons. The Sea Eagle didn’t hit the ground, but got the message and departed shortly thereafter.
There is intense competition between Sea Eagles and Wedge-tailed Eagles on Bruny Island – but the numbers are on the Sea Eagles’ side – they can deal with much greater habitat diversity and disturbance levels than Wedgies.
Cover Image of Peregrine Falcon: Kim Murray
The Sea Eagle didn’t hit the ground, but got the message and departed shortly thereafter.
James Bunker
independent researcher, BIEN
Raptors are birds of prey, bird species that hunt and feed off other animals, often other smaller birds, mammals and lizards. Raptors tend to have incredible eyesight, have skilful flight capabilities, and sharp talons and beaks.
At night-time on Bruny, particularly in the forested areas, you can listen closely and often hear the call of the Boobook owl.
The Boobooks have been going off in the dry sclerophyll forests of late. At night you can hear their classic “boo-book” call to each other. Often several Boobook owls can be heard at once at a distance from each other – marking each other’s position through their haunting call through the forest. This is a natural way to help them hold and maintain their hunting grounds.
Hobbys and Peregrine falcons, which are small very fast falcons, can often be seen at the neck. Hobbys are one of the only raptors that can do true geostatic hovering – an ability to be poised mid-air whilst waiting for the moment to strike their prey.
One favourite raptor moment on Bruny Island was an occasion where I saw a white color-morph Goshawk take down a small brown bird near Cloudy Bay. Diving at an incredible speed towards a small brown bird on the forest line – it flared up just before the forest, then dropped down straight onto the bird. I could almost hear the brown bird’s last breath.
One day, I was cleaning up roadkill on Cloudy Bay road – when I could see a Sea Eagle approaching at speed towards me and the roadkill. Whilst watching this beautiful sea eagle, a Wedge-tailed Eagle then came from nowhere at twice the speed, underneath the Sea Eagle. It then, mid-air, inverted and grabbed the Sea Eagle with its talons. The Sea Eagle didn’t hit the ground, but got the message and departed shortly thereafter.
There is intense competition between Sea Eagles and Wedge-tailed Eagles on Bruny Island – but the numbers are on the Sea Eagles’ side – they can deal with much greater habitat diversity and disturbance levels than Wedgies.
Cover Image of Peregrine Falcon: Kim Murray
The Sea Eagle didn’t hit the ground, but got the message and departed shortly thereafter.
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