Tasmania’s wilderness was isolated from the perils of the Australian mainland for 10,000 years but human impacts have now begun to threaten its native animals and plants.
The forest’s top predators, the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle and the Tasmanian devil are among those under threat. A mysterious facial tumour disease now threatens the devils future and 56% of the state is already affected. Fewer than 1500 Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles remain and despite being listed as endangered under federal and state law, the population continues to decline.
Eagle nests are seen as territorial flags, often seen from tens of kilometres away, they are used for many generations
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Eagles are shy nesters and prolonged activity near their nest will often lead to them abandoning that nest, even if a chick is still present
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Forestry activities, infrastructure development and mining operations are major sources of disturbance in Tasmania
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Nesting failure can result even from a short period of disturbance as parents can be kept away from the nest long enough for eggs or young chicks to become chilled and fail to survive
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Eagles are more prone to disturbance during breeding and when they abandon a young chick, may try and breed again in a less suitable location,
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It is common today to find eagles nesting in secondary or even tertiary nests
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“In 50 or 100 years, nearly all the nests outside formal reserves will be disturbed; so we are looking at a progressive diminishment in productivity.” – Nick Mooney, 2007
