Newsletter compiled by
Emilija Saleta
Editions: [Current]
[Feb. 2008]
[2007]
Release of Mr Sea Eagle!
Photography: Roger Lovell
On the 18th of Jan 2006 it was time for the release of Mr Sea Eagle. He had been telling me for a few weeks that he was ready to go back into the vastness of nature. He had been doing 7-9 laps of the 80 meter circumference aviary 4-5 times a day. He was in perfect condition with lovely new feathers after a prolonged 18-month period of recuperation.
He came in at a weight of 2.5kgs, now he is 3.52 kgs and feeling very muscular. The last couple of weeks prior to release I would rouse him daily to increase fitness as well as give him little pep talks.
Mures Fishing kindly offered their state of the art fishing boat Diana to be used as a platform from which we were to set him free. Will & Judy Mure have been outstanding sponsors and there was a buzz in the air as I arrived at Kettering jetty - sea eagle under arm & a throng of well-wishers and media on the vessel.We headed out into the Channel travelling North; emotions were starting to well up in me as the realisation was becoming apparent.
The time had arrived; I showed Will the spot I had chosen from a previous trip in a runabout the week before. I had Leslie Kurek on binoculars in case there was another Eagle in close proximity and I would then have moved on as I didn't want to place him under the nose of a territorial sea eagle, but she said the coast looked clear.
Standing on the bow of Diana with a myriad of cameras and media behind us it was time.
One of the media said to me as I took him out of restraints: "Where do you think he’ll go Craig?" I replied that, at a guess, he would land... "on that branch on the right of that big dead tree over there." pointing to it. We were about 120 meters from the coast.
Holding his legs and letting him flap for a moment to stretch his wings after being restrained for 45 minutes, I then let go and he flew powerfully right up to that branch in the dead tree. There was a roar of cheering and clapping from the deck below and I just looked up at him proudly and wishing him good luck under my breath. Will then slowly turned around and we headed back to Kettering with a few refreshments, and Judy brought out some wonderful seafood platters to top it off..
It was one of the most exhilarating feelings to see him fly away, over the next few days I was wishing I had given him a mobile phone so I could ring him and say "how ya going mate have you had a nice feed?" etc ,but I could only wonder & hope all was ok.
I've since had a reported sighting of him perched in a tree overlooking some domestic ducks on a dam on a large property, so I’m guessing he has dined on Duck a la orange.
There is now a new sea eagle in care at the refuge. She is a big beautiful lady who came from Bruny Island with unknown injuries but was unable to gain altitude so she is now in training for what I hope will be another fairytale release back to where she belongs.
Craig Webb
Get ready to Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock is back for 2006! The successful fund-raising event will be held on 11 June from noon till late at the wonderful Oyster Cove Inn at Kettering. Dave Noonan from Sea FM and the Mercury Newspaper will be attending this year, giving our refuge much needed publicity and hopefully increase public awareness.
This year we have 5 marvelous acts Waiter (performed at this year’s Falls Festival), Back to Scratch, Matty Bell, Argus, Evan Love and Ben and Tanya. We will also be running a raffle. First prize for the raffle is an Eagle Glide for 2 at Tahune Air Walk kindly donated by Peter Nelson, Cable Gliding.
There’ll also be skydivers dropping in and a jumping castle for the kids. So bring your family and friends down to Kettering and enjoy the views, the music, the food and the drinks—all for a good cause! Admission: $6. Family group discounts will apply.
Can You Help?
We are very keen to get Eagle Cam up and running but we will need some type of sponsorship to achieve this. Invitations are extended to anyone who can help out with this amazing idea. It would be marvelous to be able to watch eagles feeding.
We also need to start building on our membership numbers so it would be really good if you know of friends or family who would also like to become a member and contribute in a small way to help with the protection of our wonderful raptors and reptiles. Membership forms are available on our web-site and have also been enclosed with this newsletter for distribution.
So. Get your thinking caps on, get talking and lets see what we can come up with!
A BIG Thank you goes to..
Mures have been marvelous to the Refuge with all their help with the Sea Eagle release and also with the continuous support they provide with supplies of fresh fish for the birds. So a beautifully framed gallery of photographs capturing all the excitement of the sea eagle release day was presented to Will and Judy Mure late February to acknowledge all their wonderful support.
The Lions Club Sandy Bay committee (Glen Gillies, Michael Salter, Susan Lockhart) have decided to kindly purchase and donate 250 blackwood trees to provide much needed shelter for the aviaries and the birds. Total value is almost $2,000! Well done and much appreciated.
And last but not least, Koppers Logs have donated 80 poles to go towards the construction of the new aviaries and wallaby enclosures. Thank you all!!
Great Funding News!
The Raptor and Wildlife Refuge of Tasmania is overjoyed to get approval from the Tasmanian Community Benefit fund program which aims to help community based not-for-profit organizations.
We applied for funding for a toilet, education centre, car park, landscaping and fencing, and security gates among other items. Now with such good news that we can do this, the work starts—getting council approval etc, sourcing the correct type of loo (environmentally friend of course), and commence all the organizing that goes hand in hand with the establishment of a great centre. So in a nutshell we are extremely happy to receive some funding
There is still a long way to get where we want to be. The next big step is to apply and hopefully get a wildlife exhibition licence. There are only nine in Tasmania and all have been issued to zoos. I still have to apply according to this method as there is nothing else appropriate. We are a rehabilitation centre—NOT a zoo—but there is no provisions for anything other than a zoo.
Similar to the application to the Tasmanian Community Fund, about 18 pages and a lot of effort go into just completing the paperwork, but of course it has to be done. I recall that the Tasmanian Community Fund application swallowed up about 30 man hours but it was well worth it!
Craig Webb
Why Do They Do it? Wildlife Carers Exposed!
Lesley Kurek from Nubeena on the Tasman Peninsula has been a wildlife carer for almost 20 years and absolutely loves it. It all began with a young kookaburra on the road one New Year’s Day that led to Lesley now being a Registered Carer for wildlife and a Licensed Carer (specialising) in the care of Sea Birds and Bats. Why does she do it?
“I almost feel a moral obligation or duty to these animals to try and give them a second chance at survival. Sometimes I get very angry when I lose an animal.mainly because I know that, in most cases, the injuries are the result of people doing the wrong thingwith their dogs, with their cats, with their cars. And of course I’m sad when I lose an animal that I’ve spent a lot of time and effort on trying to save. But the thought of making a difference and the chance of saving future animals keeps me going”.
Lesley has cared for a wide range of animals over the years – sea and land birds (including a number of albatrosses), wombats, wallabies and a very lost New Zealand Fjordland Penguin – a long way from home!
She has also gained some valuable and interesting skills along the way.
“Wildlife Management Branch, DPIWE runs some fantastic courses for carers. I’ve been on 7 including such things as providing injections, sub-cutting to provide fluid under the skin for dehydrated animals and even performing autopsies which has been fascinating— all a bit CSI’ish really!”.
Wildlife Carers also need to provide all equipment and housing for animals, food or vet expenses from their own funds. How can people help?
“Even if you work full-time and only have the weekend to spare, there are lots of way you can help—transporting animals, babysitting animals for carers, sewing pouches and of course, pooper scooper patrols!”.
For those interested in becoming a carer or helping in any way, please contact the Wildlife Management Branch, DPIWE on 6233 6556 or email: Wildlife.Enquiries@dpiwe.tas.gov.au
“I almost feel a moral obligation or duty to these animals to try and give them a second chance at survival”
What’s Been Happening at the Refuge
We had a successful fund-raiser gold day at North West Bay Golf Club. Thank you to all who attended. A big thank you to John Klug for organizing the day as well. We raised about $1000 which is very much needed for all the developments going on. Just the other day the centre needed about $200 worth of pulleys and hardware for the tensioning of the new aviary netting to make the flight area even bigger and better. Money never seems to stretch far enough.
I had also been asked to deliver a talk about eagles, the centre and wildlife in general at Birds Tasmania and the Avicultural Society. Public speaking was never on my mind, however, after initial nervousness was overcome, I couldn’t hold back and actually enjoyed it. Again raising awareness and just talking about wildlife care and more—a new experience and a new direction!
Snakes have made a very early appearance this year with the first capture in October which is very unusual. To date I have caught 70 snakes— 1 white-lipped whip snake, 3 copperheads and 66 tiger snakes! A new release spot has been found away from humans and with everything they need—cover, water etc. The old release site started to get a bit saturated so it was time to move on.
At the refuge two new wild Tasmanian wedge-tail eagles are flying in for daily visits. From the colour on the nape (back of head) I can tell that they are younger, and they are also very cheeky showing off some amazing flying stunts. Bird deflector devices are being fitted to all wire stays on aviaries, as well as a perch on the power pole near the aviaries. It would be disastrous to have a visiting wedgie get hurt on the rehabilitation aviaries!
The opening day was also a great success with lots of people attending helping to spread constantly required awareness of what our wildlife are facing.
Feature Bird
Who Am I?!
I live:
- All over Tasmania
- In old growth forests
- north-east facing slopes
- My nests are below the ridgeline
I eat?
- Carrion
- Sick & injured stock
- Rabbits and feral cats
How come I’m so special?
- Because I am a sub–species of the mainland wedge-tail
- I am on the threatened species list
- And I am BIGGER than the mainlanders
I am The Wedge Tailed Eagle
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