Observations of the killing of large macropods by Wedge-tailed Eagles Aquila audax

Abstract

During a long-term study on the breeding ecology of a raptor guild in the Australian Southern Tablelands of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, on two occasions we observed a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles Aquila audax killing male Eastern Grey Kangaroos Macropus giganteus. We also observed two attacks on an adult female kangaroo: one inconclusive, and one that resulted in the Eagle killing a young kangaroo expelled from the female’s pouch. These observations shed some light on the way that Eagles use this food resource.