Eagle deaths in Tasmania attributed to energy assets, with a precautionary appeal to future development

Gregory D. Pullen


Abstract

The Tasmanian subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax fleayi is listed as Endangered under both federal and state threatened species legislation, with an estimated population of <1000 individuals, and ongoing threats. The species is vulnerable to injury and mortality from wind-power infrastructure. The same is true of the similarly sized White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster, which is listed as Vulnerable under Tasmanian threatened species legislation. This paper summarises research undertaken on the number of documented Tasmanian eagle deaths and injuries from energy assets in the period 2010–2022. Information about eagle deaths and injuries is not readily available nor readily made available. Hence, the information comes from searching primary sources such as annual reports. I provide evidence of 272 individual Wedge-tailed Eagles injured or killed plus 49 White-bellied Sea-Eagles. In addition to the 321 reported cases of eagle deaths and injuries, it is likely that unrecorded casualties are higher since most are recorded anecdotally and are not the result of systematic survey.

References


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