Newsletter compiled by Anthea Wallhead
and Vicki Silcock
Editions: [Current]
[Feb. 2008]
[2007]
NEW YEAR: NEW RELEASE OF
LIFE
As seen by the Raptor Refuge Secretary -
Photo by Sam Rosewarne
Photographs by Rowena Howard
Craig chose January 1, 2008 for the release of a wedge-tailed
eagle, which had spent three years at the Refuge, gradually
restoring strength to its damaged wing. Although originally
from the Bothwell area, the eagle had not established
its own territory, and Craig decided to release it from
the top on Mt Wellington at midday on the first of the
new year.
Tuesday dawned dull and the mountain was shrouded in
thick mist. Most of us were still recovering from New
Year’s Eve celebrations and drove slowly up the
foggy road to the top to await Craig and Rowena and the
eagle. I had brought my son and sister-in-law with me
to see the release, and we all hoped visibility would
improve so we could watch the eagle fly off into the distance.
By midday, three TV crews, a newspaper journalist and
a small group of others were still waiting and the mist
was thinning occasionally but not clearing. Half an hour
later, Craig and Rowena arrived with the eagle, secure
in its specially designed wrapping. They were later than
expected because while stopped in Margate, the eagle sensed
freedom and burst out of its wrapping and tried to escape
from the truck. Although not an experienced bird handler,
Rowena managed to restrain the eagle against the windscreen
until Craig returned from the shop. Passing shoppers ignored
her cries for help, as if eagles in trucks on the first
of the year were a common occurrence!
In the car park on top of the mountain, Craig took the
eagle to the back of the truck and carefully opened the
wrappings and held the eagle by its legs and wings. The
media surrounded Craig as he moved to the edge of the
parking area and released the eagle’s wings. The
eagle stared at Craig for a moment, its beak open, then
turned to face the mountain wilderness. Craig held the
eagle until he was sure it was ready to fly, and then
released it upwards from his hands. Immediately, the eagle
soared high and quickly disappeared into the mist.
It was a very emotional moment, particularly for Craig,
who had cared for the bird over the three years at the
Refuge. We all clapped to celebrate the release, and Craig
then had to answer questions from the media. After Craig
had made a few pointed comments about the attitude of
the government, certain businesses and some sectors of
the public towards the care and protection of eagles,
the launching was over and we all made our way down the
mountain. A memorable event for us all and hopefully,
a new start for the eagle.
Anthea Wallhead
Secretary, Raptor and Wildlife Refuge of Tasmania
Inc
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!
Wind Farm Visit
 I
recently joined the Raptor and Wildlife Refuge as volunteer
secretary and on Monday 29th October 2007, I was asked
by Craig to accompany him on a visit to the Woolnorth
wind farms in northwest Tasmania. The visit was arranged
by Birds Tasmania and Roaring Forties (RF) so that we
could see what measures Roaring Forties were taking to
try and prevent more Wedge-tailed Eagle deaths at their
wind farms. As this would provide me with more insight
into the protection of eagles, I was eager to attend,
and turned up at the Raptor Refuge at 7.15am to drive
to the airport for the Tasair flight to Smithton.
We were joined by Cindy from Roaring Forties and Eric
from Birds Tasmania and about 8.45 am took off in a six-seater
Rockwell Aero Commander into a strong headwind, which
meant 1 ½ hours flying time and earplugs to reduce
engine noise. The wind made the flight a bit bumpy at
times and sometimes cloud cover prevented views of the
landscape, but it was amazing to see the central highland
areas for most of the flight (except where ugly logging
coups scarred the forested areas). After one rain storm
and more bumps, we landed at Smithton airport to be greeted
by Ralph and Sarah from Birds Tasmania and Chris, Simon
and Michelle from Roaring Forties, who loaded us into
4WD vehicles and drove us to the first wind farm we were
to visit at Studland Bay. Access to the wind farms is
restricted to staff and invited guests, although occasional
bus tours are arranged for the public.
 On
arrival at the wind farm, we were given hard hats and
orange vests and driven to several parts of the farm,
where eagles had hit power lines or blades. Power lines
have small flapping shapes on them to attract attention
of birds so they don’t fly into them, but if distracted,
eagles will not see them until too late. RF also has two
birdwatchers scanning areas of the farm every day and
if an eagle is spotted, the station is alerted to stop
the particular turbine nearest the eagle, until the bird
has flown further away. It was impressive to know that
even if the station is not manned, the birdwatcher’s
phone call is noted and turbines can be stopped remotely,
even from Hobart.
At the look-out on the coastline cliffs, the wind was
so strong I was leaning at forty-five degrees and still
not moving! Others of the group more sturdily built had
less trouble, but it was very cold and we were glad to
get back into the vans. Next to the building was one of
the turbine blades, the size of which is hard to figure
when slowly spinning above one’s head, but gigantic
when laid horizontal. Each wind turbine has three blades
atop a tall column, just wide enough to contain a ladder,
and special training has to be undertaken before staff
can climb to the top. The tips of the blades can turn
at up to 250 km/h, but are regulated to stop when wind
speeds are too high. Scanning a group of the turbines,
one will always see some stopped and some moving, and
on areas of little vegetation, the height of the turbines
and slow-moving blades is always slightly surreal. The
swish-swish sound the blades make is not particularly
loud unless the wind is higher, when they sound like a
distant jet taxiing on an airstrip.
After touring Studland Bay, winding through the area
on tracks fenced off from the surrounding cattle farms,
we were taken to Bluff Point, further north, to view the
turbines there. Eagle deaths had been reduced there over
the years, by closer monitoring of their aggressive relationship
to the sea eagles, which nest nearby. Only one eagle was
observed during this time, with strong wind gusts and
rain showers probably being as much a deterrent to movement
by the eagles as it was to us. As the wind does not blow
steadily from one direction, but can veer from west to
east, with turbulent gusts, protecting eagles form colliding
with the turbines requires not a single, but several preventative
measures.
 The
sight of very large field mushrooms near a turbine gave
us all hunger pangs as it was nearly seven hours since
some of us had had breakfast and a coffee, so it was with
relief when we were taken to the old Directors’
Lodge at Cape Grim for lunch. We were welcomed by the
owners and given a very tasty lunch while looking out
on magnificent views of the coast. Roaring Forties then
gave us a slide show, which explained the thorough monitoring
efforts being made to prevent eagle deaths, and a wide
range of other interesting information about the wind
farms.
One of the programs included educational kits about the
care and protection of eagles, to be developed for schools,
and Craig and I felt that the Raptor Refuge could play
a major role in promoting these. We will now be notified
once these kits are available and work towards introducing
more opportunities for school children to visit the Refuge.
There was general discussion about ways to further reduce
eagle deaths throughout Tasmania and it will be interesting
to find out which methods are most successful. I was very
impressed by the attention given to eagle monitoring,
on both the existing wind farms and proposed ones. However,
14 eagle deaths have been recorded over the past three
years, far in excess of the estimate of 2.5 birds per
year! Apparently no other wind farms in Australia have
such intensive monitoring but Roaring Forties are in contact
with several wind farms overseas for advice and support
of their efforts.
It was close to 5.00pm before we were taken back to Smithton
airport for the return flight to Hobart. Thank you Eric
for opening and closing all the gates we had to go through
to reach different areas of the wind farms, usually in
the fierce wind and rain – the privilege of riding
up front! Eric, Cindy, Craig and I boarded the plane and
this time, having a tailwind, the trip was a bit faster,
but there was cloud cover most of the way and it was good
to touch down safely and return home.
With my background in education and business, I hope
to contribute to the development of the Refuge as a key
centre for promoting awareness and care of wildlife, particularly
threatened species, and look forward to continued liaison
with Birds Tasmania and Roaring Forties to achieve these
aims. Thank you Craig for giving me the opportunity to
visit Woolnorth.
Anthea Wallhead
Secretary, Raptor and Wildlife Refuge of Tasmania
Inc
January - February Raptor Refuge Centre Activity
Update
Well it has been a baptism of fire involving
the centre since mid January and I have been kept extremely
busy handling all kinds of wildlife. Word spreads quickly
in the Channel/Huon area, and people have been dropping
off an assortment of wildlife in need of help. This has
entailed me making dashing trips up to Sandy Bay to the
Vets, which have been a fantastic help, and they do such
a great job in treating these injured creatures. I have
had a couple of Quolls, Eastern Barred Bandicoots and
a badly injured Padymellon. All of these animals and birds
have had the best of treatment, and it is wonderful to
know that there are people so willing to help make sure
they have every chance for a full recovery.
Things are running smoothly at the Sanctuary at the moment,
our 3 Wedge Tail Eagles are getting stronger on a daily
basis, are also letting me know what their favourite food
is, which is of course rabbits, and are calling out greetings
to me when they hear me pull up in the car.
Yesterday I had a huge female Wedgie visit while I was
there feeding, and she was most interested. She was sitting
on top of the aviary and was checking me out very carefully.
She flew off effortlessly and soared around above me,
no doubt coming back after I had left.
Some of the different raptors I have had to deal with
these past 6 weeks have been a Brown Goshawk from Woodbridge,
a Swamp Harrier that was attacked by cows at Middleton,
and a couple of Tawnies.
Its never a dull moment, and I am grateful that I can
offer my help and skills to any wildlife that comes to
the Refuge.
Vicki Silcock
Raptor Refuge Centre
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
|
The
Crest Chronicle
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