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Home , Barking Owl, Bird of prey, Grey goshawk, Red goshawk

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ARA Contacts

President William Riddell Boobook 0427 470 250 [email protected]

Secretary Journal of the Australasian Mr Ian Bailey 02 9821 4284 [email protected] Raptor Association

Treasurer Mr Peter Horne Volume 35 (1) August 2017 02 6496 3561 [email protected] From the President Webmaster In my first column as ARA president I should Mr Phil Argent ability to secure a suitable venue. I 0450 241 983 introduce myself. I grew up in Darwin – an encourage state representatives to come [email protected] outdoor lifestyle being the norm in northern forward with suggestions. Australia – and developed an appreciation of Boobook Editor Dr Stephen Debus Nature and wildlife. After an urban existence Another issue for the ARA to resolve is 0409 779 766 during my university years interstate I returned the dormant state of the website. [email protected] to the NT. My first job was in a forestry project Stephen Debus has fought to get links to on the Tiwi Islands, where one task was to back issues of Boobook reinstated, but Boobook Production survey and monitor threatened . It was we could do so much more with the site. my first sighting of a that showed In this age of extensive internet Request for Assistance how majestic of prey can be, and surveys engagement the ARA should have a of the Tiwi subspecies of Masked gave me stronger online presence to promote our feathers needed I am currently undertaking my an appreciation of nocturnal birds of prey. Since interests. An active website can better honours year of study at the my time on the Tiwis my raptor appreciation and enable the ARA to coordinate our efforts University of Queensland, St research has been a personal, part-time affair in by providing updates on interesting Lucia, supervised by Professor spare time. My research has focused on raptor research projects and provide a platform Gimme Walter. My project ecology in the urban Darwin environment and for discussion of important raptor involves analysing feathers of the the raptors able to breed there (Brown conservation issues. This may be Grey Falcon to determine how Goshawk, , Brahminy and difficult with the website under the they provide the species with a morphological adaptation to living Barking Owl). auspices of Birdlife Australia, so social in the arid interior of Australia. To media may provide an alternative determine this, I will need to There has been recent communication among avenue. An ARA Facebook page would compare Grey Falcon feathers the ARA committee regarding the future be easy, cheap and user-friendly. I call with those of related raptor direction of the organisation. Clearly there is a on volunteers to come forward and be species. Thus, I am inquiring as need to enable members to be engaged in involved in freshening up the ARA to whether you currently have any meaningful projects and discussions. Most ARA website and establishing a social media raptor species in your care that I members spend much of their spare time may potentially collect feathers presence for our organisation. from for my project, as I am now monitoring and photographing birds of prey, and beginning experimentation and I’m sure that this information could be used in a The ARA committee has a healthy have fewer feathers than needed. manner that adds to our collective knowledge of generational spread and has been stable In particular, most pertinent for raptor species and can be shared amongst for a while now. It’s time for us to collection and comparison would members. Reinstating BOPWatch has been coordinate our efforts and come up with be those of , suggested as a means of getting members a vision to create a more active and Australian Hobby, Peregrine involved in gathering raptor information and inclusive organisation. Falcon, and Nankeen , but any of population data. Any program that encourages Regards, prey species (including owl member participation and improves knowledge Will Riddell species) available would be is worth pursuing. How we design and develop suitable and greatly appreciated. the program is open to discussion. If you have any Grey Falcon feathers available, they too would Apart from the biannual publication of Boobook, be invaluable. Also if you are the ARA has been quiet since the Adelaide aware of anyone either within- or interstate who may be able to conference in 2013. There were suggestions of assist me in feather collection I more regular conferences (every two years), would very much appreciate if you which has not happened. The ARA should would forward me their contact gather every at least five years to discuss the details. Thanks in advance for latest in raptor research. This means your time, and any available preparation for a conference in 2018 must feathers. commence, with a brainstorming of themes and Dale Mullin Black Falcon—Photo: David Whelan venues. The most important criterion will be [email protected] Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 2 Area Representatives In This Issue ACT Mr Jerry Olsen 02 6251 4568 [email protected] From the President 1

Nthn NSW Office Bearers 1 Mr Glen Joseph 0416 286 444 [email protected] Editorial 3

Interesting Websites 3 Sthn NSW Mr Peter Horne 02 6496 3561 [email protected] Reports and News Little in the Australian Capital 4 NT Mr William Riddell 0427 470 250 [email protected] NT Area Rep’s Report 6

Qld Dr Richard Seaton 0478 107 276 Minutes of the executive teleconference 7 [email protected] BirdLife Australia’s EagleCAM 5 SA Mr Ian Falkenberg 0428 842 873 [email protected] Band recovery of an Australian Hobby in Perth 8 Chinese Goshawk in the Kimberley 8 WA Mr Simon Cherriman 0422 916 747 [email protected] Another in Perth 8

TAS Mr Nick Mooney 0427 826 922 Siberian Peregrine in south-eastern Australia 8 [email protected] Raptor File Vic Dr Victor Hurley 0427 238 898 [email protected] Eagles and windfarms in Tasmania: a comment 9 Island 11 VACANT High-elevation Wedge-tailed nests 11 PNG/Indonesia Dr David Bishop 02 6771 5580 [email protected] How the world’s fastest bird will make aircraft safer 11

Articles Advisors Trial of microchips on rehabilitated raptors 12

Captive Raptor Advisor Black-breasted rehab case notes 16 Anita Corbran 0422 114 023 [email protected] Release of a juvenile Kestrel on the Gudgenby Plain 19

Education Advisor ACT Little Eagle migrates to Daly Waters (NT) 20 Greg Czechura 07 3840 7642 (bh) [email protected] Field Notes

Raptor Management Advisor interacting with Black Falcon 21 Nick Mooney 0427 826 922 Little Eagle takes Crested Pigeon 21 [email protected] Red Goshawk nesting observations 21

The aims of the association are the study, International News conservation and management of New camera system to prevent powerline collisions 22 diurnal and nocturnal raptors of the Raptors are the solution 23 Australasian Faunal Region Literature Disclaimer: the views expressed in this journal do not necessarily reflect those of the ARA or BirdLife Australia Journals 23 Conference abstracts 21

falcon feathers needed 1 Membership Enquiries Request for Assistance— Supporter Services - BirdLife Australia Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 Ph: 1300 730 075 [email protected] Welcome to Boobook Annual subscription Please send articles & requests to the Editor [email protected] $A30 single membership Include a photo with your article submissions where possible $A35 $A45 institutions To enjoy future editions by email notify www.birdlife.org.au/locations/australasian-raptor- association [email protected]

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 3

Editorial

First up, congratulations and welcome ARA conference books Australasian In this issue we have, by coincidence, to Will Riddell as the new ARA Raptor Studies I and II. As suspected, a listing of a new paper on president, the only nominee for the for space reasons on our host body rodenticides and raptors in Tasmania position by the Secretary’s deadline BirdLife Australia’s website, pre-2016 and an international news item on a for nominations. Similarly, there were publications of the Regional Groups group, Raptors Are the Solution no contrary nominations or advice for and Special Interest Groups were (RATS), fighting the problem of other executive positions, so summarily removed, without consulting rodenticides. We also have a critique nominees and past office-bearers the ARA, and apparently without of public policy on urbanisation and were duly declared elected unopposed appreciation of the fact that our the Little Eagle in the ACT; a critique of and we did not need to hold a ballot. publications were archived data, not a flawed study purporting to show no There was a small departure from just ephemeral newsletters like most of effect of windfarms on Wedge-tailed tradition in that two people nominated the others so removed. I think that Eagle productivity in Tasmania; and a for NSW Rep, so it was decided to split incident highlights the need for limited variety of reports and news items, very the position between Southern NSW content on the BirdLife SIG/ARA page positive rehab case studies, and a few and Northern NSW (nicely aligning with (and replacement of the non-Australian field notes (too few, really). Of special our parent body BirdLife Australia’s Peregrine photo there!), and a link to a note is a satellite-tagged, breeding NSW Regional Groups), and the new separate ARA website and publications male Little Eagle migrating from the Sthn NSW Rep is Peter Horne (ARA hosted elsewhere. This could be the ACT to the Top End. The Literature Treasurer). Thanks to Rod Kavanagh catalyst for a rebuilt, much more line-up is the usual mix of Australian for his presidency in 2016, curtailed comprehensive ARA website that, papers, and overseas papers of by an important new and demanding among other things, welcomes photos relevance to Australian raptor ecology job with the Australian Wildlife from members. A social media and behaviour. Please note the Conservancy. presence is a good idea too, but I’d request for assistance with falcon have to leave that to the younger feathers, and help supply any to a Thanks to Andrew Dunn at BirdLife for generation. worthy project if you can. reinstating a link on the ARA website to past issues of Boobook and to the Stephen Debus

Interesting Websites

From Colin Cook: information on a group committed to removing rodenticides from the environment; could be a useful source of info. Many links to fact sheets, educational materials etc. http://www.raptorsarethesolution.org/

From Márton Horváth, BirdLife Hungary: the Layman’s report of the HELICON LIFE project (2012–2016) might be of interest for those who working with eagles and/or mitigation of illegal poisoning: http://www.imperialeagle.hu/sites/imperialeagle.hu/files/PDFs/HELICON_D12_Laymans_report_2016.pdf All main documents, including protocols, reports, leaflets and papers of the HELICON LIFE project are available at its website, where there is also a PannonEagle LIFE project against the same problem of eagle poisoning together with experts from 5 countries in the Pannonian region: www.imperialeagle.hu

From Torsten Langgemach: the Brandenburg State Centre is running a German-wide and additionally a Europe-wide database on wind energy casualties, for birds as well as for – see four tables on http://www.lugv.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb1.c.312579.de. German-wide recommendations for ‘wind-sensitive’ species (published in German and unpubl. English version) are based on the above-mentioned database and a comprehensive literature review on the same website: http://www.lugv.brandenburg.de/cms/media.php/lbm1.a.3310.de/vsw_dokwind_voegel.pdf. Also, see http://migratorysoaringbirds.undp.birdlife.org/en/sectors/energy for guidelines developed by the BirdLife International Migratory Soaring Birds Programme.

From Nick Mooney (via David Ralph): UN looks to protect birds from green energy threats http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39954427

From Nick Mooney (via Kate Mooney): NT wildlife bust (including ) and UK urban Peregrines http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-14/darwin-man-pleads-guilty-to-biggest-protected-wildlife-seizure/8353092 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/14/peregrine-falcons-urban-london-success-story

From David Whelan: camera-trap sequence of taking Sika Deer calf https://news.mongabay.com/2013/09/terror-from-above-eagle-tackles-deer-in-stunning-camera-trap-photos/

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 4

Reports & News

Little Eagles in the Australian Capital Territory during two breeding seasons: 2015 and 2016, and the myth of ‘buffers’ and ‘corridors’ Previously we reported on the collapse of breeding Little Eagles morphnoides in the ACT from about 13 territories in the 1980s and 1990s to one to four breeding territories, depending on the year, between 2005 and 2014 (Olsen et al. 2015). Causes of the decline could be the use of the poison Pindone to control rabbits, or breeding Wedge-tailed Eagles audax displaced from other locations and displacing Little Eagles, but mainly suburban development in the northern ACT. Little Eagles have not been found breeding in heavily forested Namadgi in the southern ACT, but breed mainly in open forest and woodland in the north, areas susceptible to urban sprawl.

Results Radio-tagged juvenile Little Eagle at Strathnairn, as a In the two breeding seasons, 2015 and 2016, breeding attempts nestling and just fledged. This bird and its parents were (eggs or young) were reported to us for Little Eagles in the ACT. never seen foraging within 200 metres of the nest site: The total across the ACT was one fledged young from two active Photo—S. Trost & J. Olsen nests in 2015 (Campbell Park and Strathnairn), and one fledged young each from two active nests in 2016 (Campbell Park and Strathnairn). That translates to 0.75 young per territory per year, low productivity for this species (Olsen 2014), even compared to recent years such as 2008 when a total of four young were fledged from four breeding territories in one year (Olsen et. al. 2009).

Because Wedge-tailed Eagles might usurp Little Eagles breeding territories, we monitor as many Wedge-tailed Eagle territories as possible near Canberra. In 2016 we checked nine Wedge-tailed Eagle territories close to the city. In contrast to Little Eagles, they fledged a total of 11 young, 1.2 young per territory per year, high productivity for this species (Olsen 2014).

Discussion Little Eagles still breed at low levels in the ACT, but because of increased urbanisation, and, possibly, Pindone, and interference from Wedge-tailed Eagles, Little Eagle breeding success is poor.

Property developers have set up ‘buffers’ around eagle nests, including the Little Eagle nest at Strathnairn. The developers claim that no development, including infrastructure and construction-related activities, is permitted within 200 m of the Little Eagle nesting tree and immediate foraging area. This is junk science. ‘Buffers’ set around raptor nests by ACT real estate developers and government planners are not based on evidence. The buffers are arbitrary, always too small, and set to advantage land developers, not eagles.

In Australian High Country Raptors JO said (page 232), “Three concepts need to be mentioned that can help a developer more to kill off. Land developers love them. And the problem than raptors. A buffer set around an active eagle nest is often of is, ACT developers always find a compliant ecologist little use because the buffers are too small, and they don’t who, for pay, will support these bogus notions, and consider the size of the whole home range and how eagles move pretend there is evidence to back them, though no nests sites as far as 5 km within a breeding home range. Buffers evidence is ever produced. This happened with the may stop some disturbance for a short time, but free developers Strathnairn Little Eagles. The eagles were never seen to destroy foraging habitat and areas for alternative nests, so the foraging within 200 m of their nest. This was a foraging eagles eventually abandon the area. Corridors set in the ACT, said -free-zone. So developers set up a buffer area in a 200 to link areas of habitat, are usually too narrow to sustain pairs of m radius of the nest to protect the area for foraging (in eagles, so eagles will eventually be lost in these areas, unless the area Little Eagles were never seen foraging). adjoining farmland outside of the corridor is kept free from Stephen Debus (pers. comm.) has never seen Little development. Trade-offs, where bodies claim to retain, for Eagles foraging within 200 m of the Little Eagle nests example, an area of box woodland in one place if they can destroy he studied. it in another place, are often a form of sleight-of-hand because both areas of woodland should be retained, not one. These trade- We did see Little Eagles foraging outside of this 200 m offs or offsets rarely trade like for like, and can’t truly be offsets ‘buffer’ zone, in areas now being destroyed by unless new habitat is created, which takes decades.” developers and the government to build suburban residences. These myths about ‘buffers’, ‘corridors’ and ‘trade-offs’ are hard

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 5

Reports & News

And developers cannot buffer the Strathnairn Little Eagles from disturbance because these Little Eagles are only 50 metres from a major public facility, the Strathnairn Homestead Gallery. The Gallery has regular public functions that can be noisy. The people and noise haven’t deterred the Little Eagles, but loss of foraging habitat outside of the 200 m buffer zone, we believe, will deter them. We suspect that Little Eagles routinely nest close to houses in the ACT and nearby New South as protection from Wedge-tailed Eagles, which don’t nest so close to houses.

There is a good reason why eagles forage less frequently close to their nests. Prey , such as rabbits, magpies or corvids, close to the Little Eagle nest, learn the habits of the nesting eagles, so the element of surprise is lost. So most is done at some distance from the nest, where eagles can surprise prey, and carry it back. ‘Corridors’ matter little to the eagles we Canberra Wedge-tailed Eagle surveyed in 2016 study in Canberra because eagles can carry prey over houses to their nests, Photo—S. Trost & J. Olsen and we’ve seen them do this. What eagles need is extensive home-range areas to hunt in. And these areas are being destroyed while ‘corridors’ and ‘offsets’ are being offered up as sweeteners, ‘corridors’ and ‘offsets’ that are BirdLife Australia’s EagleCAM substandard for Little Eagle breeding. The ‘corridors’, ‘buffer zones’ and ‘offset areas’ give limited foraging opportunities, and some are within the As at 21 January there was no more news home ranges of hunting Wedge-tailed Eagles. So we have predicted that this about juvenile SE17 [since 16 Dec. – see last Strathnairn Little Eagle home range will eventually be abandoned because issue]. The adults have been coming to the suburban development there will destroy foraging areas. nest again from time to time and are seen regularly on the . A buffer around a Little Eagle nest, meant to protect the eagles from

disturbance, and maintain foraging areas, should be a minimum of 1 km radius from the nest if the buffer is based on similar species such as the As at 19 May, the Sea-Eagle pair were Hieraaetus pennatus in Spain (López-López et al. 2016, repairing and preparing their nest for new Journal of DOI 10.1007/s10336-016-1357-z), and it should be eggs. There was extensive damage to a more than 2 km away from breeding Wedge-tailed Eagles, to protect them camera and other data and electrical from these larger eagles in the ACT where numbers of macropod prey are equipment that is essential for the sea-eagle artificially inflated and benefit breeding and non-breeding Wedge-tailed cam to record and broadcast. Eagles. The situation may be different in other parts of Australia.

Acknowledgements Our volunteers have been working feverishly Thanks to Stephen Debus for helpful comments, and to COG members, installing replacement equipment and testing especially Martin Butterfield, Rosemary Blemings, Con Boekel, Steve connections to make sure that the Eagle-Cam Holliday, Chris Davey, Barbara Allan, Michael Lenz, Peter Christian, Roger is working; they don’t want to interfere with Curnow, Rod Mackay and Graeme Clifton. Thanks also to Rob Armstrong, nesting activity. James Overall, Bernd Gruber, Renee Brawata, Kym Bradley, Tom Long, Michael Maconachie and McComas Taylor, who gave much appreciated As at 17 June, the eagles are on the nest and advice. Thanks to the ABBBS and David Drynan for assistance with eagle preparing for eggs. The cameras and bands. equipment have been replaced and/or References repaired and are running, though still without Olsen, J. (2014). Australian High Country Raptors. CSIRO Publishing, sound. Melbourne. Olsen, J. Osgood, M. & Dabb, G. (2015). Little Eagles in the Australian Thank you for all of your efforts and support: Capital Territory in 2014. Canberra Bird Notes Judy Harrington, Stephen Davey, Geoff 40: 207–209. Hutchinson, Cathy Cook, Helen Stibbs, Shirley Olsen, J., Osgood, M., Maconachie, M., Dabb, G. & Butterfield, M. (2009). Numbers of Breeding Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides in the Australian McGregor plus many more at home and Capital Territory in 2008. Canberra Bird Notes 34: 81–85. abroad. Thank you to those generous donors who have contributed much-needed funds to Jerry Olsen and Susan Trost help with the replacement and repair costs. Please click on the following link to view the EagleCam: http://www.sea-eaglecam.org/ video.html from BirdLife Southern NSW e-news 21.01.2017, 19.05.2017,

17.06.2017

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 6

Reports & News

NT Area Rep’s report sentence might have been justified throughout the suburbs of Darwin. Thanks to the resourcefulness of if information on people higher up Unfortunately, this tree has acquired a Richard Seaton, a Red Goshawk the chain was handed over, though negative reputation of late for its tendency recovery team has been set up to further prosecutions are yet to to behave in the manner of numerous develop initiatives to promote occur. The case serves as a large tree species, by dropping branches research, monitoring and reminder to be vigilant when sharing when stressed. This has tragically resulted conservation of this threatened information on bird sightings and in two fatalities in Darwin in the last 10 species. As part of the team, and nest locations, particular those of years. Several Darwin residents have been owing to my natural interest, I have threatened and ‘charismatic’ advocating for the removal of all African endeavoured to gather information on species. Mahogany trees from the city. These trees Red Goshawk nesting locations in the provide nesting sites for Brown Goshawks, mainland Top End of the NT. The well More sad news on the conservation Brahminy Kites and Grey Goshawks that -known nest that occurred at front is recent reports of small can be seen throughout urban Darwin. Mataranka (Elsey Springs) has declines on the Tiwi Although I hesitate to defend the removal become inactive since 2013, though Islands. Trapping data collected of a tree that clearly poses a safety hazard, hopefully the pair has relocated the from 100 sites on Melville Island the risk can be substantially reduced by nest to a nearby area unknown to the have shown a 40% drop in wildlife regular pruning of branches. Arborists general public. Recent developments capture rates between 2002 and have methods of determining tree stress in the area, including removal of 2017, including more than 60% and whether pruning is required. native woodland for a Sandalwood declines in capture of the Unfortunately, it is often easier for plantation, are of concern. I have threatened Brush-tailed Rabbit-rat businesses and councils to eliminate the managed to gather information on and Black-footed Tree-rat. This risk entirely by removing a tree. The three nesting locations on the NT trend mirrors the worrying trend Darwin City Council has at least mainland, two of which occur in across northern Australia, where established a $500,000 fund for tree National Parks. Of these, two nests feral cats and altered fire regimes inspection and maintenance, so hopefully were successful in raising a fledged are believed to be the major tree removal only occurs when absolutely Red Goshawk, and the other nest was threatening processes that have led necessary. of unknown outcome. A local bird- to a crash in small mammal guide operating in the Indigenous numbers. These results have major One recent example of the application of protected area of Arnhem Land implications for the future of the common sense provides hope. A informs me he knows of three nests threatened Tiwi Island subspecies of children’s playground was built in a that were active in the area in 2016. Masked Owl, which undoubtedly suburban Darwin park about 10 years ago. These records remind us of the preys upon small and medium-sized The park contained a huge African important role that legislatively . Mahogany that had been inhabited by a protected natural areas play in the pair of nesting Brahminy Kites for over 20 conservation of rare and threatened In Darwin raptor news, the birding years (according to one local). Naturally, species, particularly for a species with community is heartened by the this tree provided a natural shade that the such a large home range as the Red return of a pair of Rufous Owls as playground designers must have thought Goshawk. residents in the Darwin Botanic was ideal, and the playground was built Gardens. The species was a regular right underneath the large forking tree A Darwin taxidermist has recently occurrence at the gardens more branches. With rising fear over the threat been found guilty of 370 charges of than 10 years ago, even managing posed by falling branches, the Darwin City poaching and illegally possessing to breed on several occasions. Council agitated for the tree’s removal. protected wildlife including Wedge- Unfortunately, their regular roosting Thankfully some nearby residents, grateful tailed Eagles and Brown Falcons. tree was removed and the breeding for the Kites’ ongoing presence, protested Rangers and police found more than tree was heavily pruned, owing to this decision and suggested removal of the 1300 parts and 400 individual safety concerns posed to the rarely used playground instead. A animals consisting of 91 different children’s playground located near compromise was reached when the tree species at the man’s home, in what the base of the trees. was heavily pruned, with the Kites’ nest may be the biggest protected wildlife Unsurprisingly, the owls became a remaining shaded and intact, and a seizure ever in Australia. Though this more irregular occurrence in the protective shade cloth was installed over seizure and prosecution represents a years following this disruption. They the playground. Let’s hope this incident success by Northern Territory wildlife are again regular sightings in the acts as a marker for future decision- officers and police, the sentence Botanics, and a breeding attempt making regarding tree-removal. handed down to the perpetrator was made last year with an owlet represents a massive disappointment failing to fledge from the hollow. Will Riddell to anyone who cares about wildlife Rufous Owls have successfully bred and conservation. The offender at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve, received a 15 month suspended jail on the urban fringe of Darwin, and a sentence and a $1500 fine after plethora of reported sightings being found to have a haul worth an throughout the Top End leads me to estimated $500,000 on the black believe the species can be market. The ridiculously light considered uncommon rather than sentence serves as an incentive for rare. the nefarious-minded to try their luck at illegal wildlife trafficking. Another The major raptor breeding tree of troubling aspect to this case is that the Darwin area is under threat. the perpetrator is clearly part of a The African Mahogany tree is the larger black-market operation. The most prominent large tree

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 7

Reports & News

ARA Executive meeting minutes Members of the ARA executive met by teleconference on 13 July 2017. Minutes (taken by Victor Hurley) from the teleconference follow. ARA members attending were: Will Riddell, Victor Hurley, Nick Mooney, Stephen Debus, Ian Falkenberg, Simon Cherriman, Rod Kavanagh, Jerry Olsen, Anita Corbran, Phil Argent and Glen Joseph. These minutes take the form of motions passed and the actions resulting, with members responsible listed and a due date for action completion and reporting back to the ARA Executive.

# Action Member to action Due Date

1 Fee structure to be confirmed with BirdLife CEO. VH 14 July

2 Develop options for a new name for the ARA, with these to be All 30 July submitted to WR for voting by Executive. Constraints: remove Australasia from name; align with/include BirdLife Australia.

3 The BirdLife website ARA page to include contact details of PA 30 July Executive members. Contact BirdLife to upload this basic information.

4 Assign Webmaster—Phil Argent offered to be ARA Webmaster. Develop new website. PA 13 July Develop ARA facebook page, link to Instagram. WR & PA 15 Aug GJ 30 July

5 Approach BirdLife to determine costs for hosting more information PA 30 July on ARA pages. 6 BOPWatch Seminar to investigate what kind of project we want, and VH 15 Aug report back to ARA executive. Investigate logistics of venue, date, agenda; all ARA Executive members invited.

7 Approach BirdLife regarding funding publication of BOPWatch II. VH 15 Aug Discuss feasibility, issues etc with Will Steele.

8 ARA Conference: approach Deakin Uni for 2019 and report back to VH 30 July ARA Executive 9 Determine whether we need to spend surplus funds? Or can we VH 30 July carry these funds over?

10 ARA to take fuller interest in NSW project. RK to raise 30 July with GJ

# MOTION Moved Seconded Voted 1 ARA fee structure as a single category (currently at $30). VH WR Passed Honorary/complimentary subscriptions to remain free

2 BirdLife web page to have link to ARA web page. The BirdLife page VH NM Passed to include Exec Member contact details. 3 ARA to have its own website with a link to the ARA’s page WR SD Passed

4 ARA to open a Facebook page, again with links to ARA/BirdLife web WR NM Passed pages.

5 BOPWatch seminar to investigate what kind of project we want. VH NM Passed (Approach BirdLife to maybe piggyback onto AOC in Geelong?)

6 ARA conference, aim for 2019, state, establish a committee Timing, venue, seed funding $10K required

7 Ideas for use of carryover funds to be submitted to Will Riddell by WR VH Passed Executive members.

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 8

Reports & News

Band recovery of an Australian Chinese Goshawk in the Kimberley Hobby in Perth Two Chinese Goshawks soloensis were observed on Browse Island, Kim- On 21 May 2017 a banded adult berley coast (northern WA), in November 2016 – first record for WA and Australia Australian Hobby Falco longipennis (other than Australian Territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and was handed in at Darling Range Ashmore Reef). Wildlife Shelter and subsequently Source: WA Bird Notes 161, March 2017: 10

euthanised at Vetwest Animal Hospital (Canning Vale), owing to severe wing injuries sustained as a Another Siberian Peregrine in south-eastern Australia result of a suspected car strike. The An adult Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus with thin malar stripe typical of the Si- bird was initially collected from the berian subspecies F. p. calidus was photographed on the coast at Mimosa Rocks roadside at the corner of Wilpon and National Park near Pambula, southern NSW, in March 2017. Beckenham Streets in Beckenham. ABBBS data indicate that Mr W. via Facebook, per Peggy McDonald and Ákos Lumnitzer Rutherford banded this Hobby as a first-year bird at Herdsman Lake on …I wonder how many of these seemingly increasing records of Northern Hemi- sphere overshooting migrants are because there are now so many twitchers out 10 March 2007. The bird was there with digital cameras, tripping to oceanic territories and posting on social me- recovered 18 km from the banding dia, and how many are related to loss of habitat and/or prey in southern Asia so location and the time elapsed was the raptors keep flying in search of foraging opportunities in their wintering destina- 10 years 2 months and 11 days. tions. They would be easy to overlook among our resident species, especially in This recovery again confirms the remote northern Australia. (Ed.) merits of banding raptors for the investigation of factors such as long- term movement, territorial fidelity, mortality and longevity. It also Another Eurasian Hobby in Perth serves as a reminder of the threats A Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo appeared in Perth (WA) again, in January–March that many raptors face with the 2017: this time a juvenile, unlike the individual in February 2016 which was an increase of urban sprawl. adult (see last issue). Warren Goodwin Source: WA Bird Notes 162, June 2017-8

Australian Hobby Photo—David Whelan

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 9

Raptor File

Eagles and windfarms in The main problems I see with the Hull Tasmania: a comment on recent et al. (2013a) paper are as follows. Inclusion of the two Bluff Point Wedge-tail publications Sample size (too low for statistical active nests for 2002 and 2003, each During a court case concerning a testing): two Wedge-tailed Eagle nests successful in one of those two years, may windfarm proposal in South Australia, at Bluff Point and seven in the have biased results. Exclusion of those much was made by the proponent’s surrounding area within 15 km, but we two years, for a more balanced barrister of the paper by Hull et al. are not told how close to turbines the comparison, changes the final columns in (2013a), which purported to show no windfarm nests were (other than ‘not Table 2 (proportion of years active and difference in Wedge-tailed Eagle among the turbines’). Similarly for the proportion of active nests successful) breeding productivity between two White-bellied Sea-Eagle, one nest from 0.63 to 0.5 and 0.75 to 0.67 for nests at the Bluff Point (Tas.) onsite (Studland Bay) and four offsite proportion active, and 0.4 to 0.67 and windfarm and seven nests outside the within 15 km. However, in their Table 0.67 to 0.5 for proportion successful, for windfarm area, though within 15 km of 2 there are two Sea-Eagle windfarm the two windfarm nests respectively. For the windfarm. Although a preliminary nests (one at each) and three in the one of the offsite nests a ‘?’ in the abstract of this paper was published in surrounding area. There is no visual Success column for 2007 is treated as a the July 2013 Boobook (31: 47), it representation (map) of the eagle zero when it was unknown; for some was not possible to judge the merits of nests in relation to turbine layout, or offsite nests there are no data for some that study on the abstract alone. spatial distribution of the offsite nests years. It is unknown or unclear whether a 2 (presumably in ~400 km if one infers given offsite pair could have bred in an 2 My first comment relates to the ½ × πr for a 15-km semicircle around alternative nest in years when the availability or prominence of this and two points 3 km apart on the coast, monitored nest was inactive (or indeed two companion papers (Hull & Muir but this isn’t explained or shown). whether the seven offsite nests could 2013; Hull et al. 2013b). We were have included alternative or old nests, told about publication of the There is no information on the identity given that two nests were never known to conference proceedings, containing of the adult eagles killed by turbine be active and two were inactive in most the 2013a paper, in time for strike. Given large home ranges (up to years; 10 pairs in ~400 km2 or 40 km2/ announcement in the July 2015 50 km2) and the likelihood of pair seems a high density for western Boobook, but only through a direct overlapping foraging ranges (adults Tas.). Finally, the Wedge-tail productivity communication from one of the hunting 10–20 km from nests), it is figures were given as outcome per active organisers/speakers/editors. unknown whether the documented nest, when number fledged per territorial Otherwise, this paper would potentially windfarm mortalities were affecting pair per year is more meaningful. Even have been under the radar for some only the pairs (and therefore so, overall and for the two windfarm Australian raptor biologists or potentially their productivity) nesting nests (especially), those figures are low managers for even longer. on site, or pairs off site as well. Thus, compared with recent data for elsewhere Furthermore, the conference pairs within 15 km of the windfarm in Australia (reviewed by Debus 2017). proceedings were published offshore may not have been independent of the (why not by an Australian publisher?), windfarm’s impact, and the study was A reanalysis of the data in their Table 2 so one has to pay $30 for the online not a controlled investigation. shows the analysis and logic of Hull et al. version of each paper in it – hardly (2013a), concerning Wedge-tail freely available research! Of the other In terms of length of time monitored productivity, to be flawed if one presents papers, Hull et al. (2013b) was (2002–2009), the two Bluff Point the windfarm data separately from the published in the NZ Journal of Zoology Wedge-tail nests were monitored from non-windfarm data, and for 2004–09 (!), admittedly in a windfarm-themed 2002 but the offsite nests were not only (though bearing in mind their issue though mainly pertaining to NZ, monitored until 2004 or later (four windfarm-only data for 2002–03). For and Hull & Muir (2013) was published from 2004, one from 2005 and two the windfarm nests, the proportion active in the overseas [US] Wildlife Society from 2007). One thus infers (though it is indeed flat over 2002–2009, but the Bulletin! (Why?) Although these two is not explained) that the Studland Bay proportion successful (= n young/active papers could no doubt be obtained by nest is not included (that windfarm nest) is declining from 0.5–1.0 in 2002– online searches (at least by academics commenced operation in 2007). 05 (no zero years) to 0–1.0 in 2006–09 with free access), they could Similarly, the Sea-Eagle nest at (three zero years out of four), and the potentially be missed by Australian Studland Bay was monitored from overall proportion successful in 2004–09 raptor students routinely scanning the 2002 but the three offsite nests were is 0.57 (0.55 even if 2002–03 data are many, and arguably more relevant, not monitored until 2004 (one not included). For the non-windfarm nests Australian journals for Australian monitored after 2007 – why?), and over 2004–09, the proportion active is studies on windfarms and wildlife. the Bluff Point nest was established in more variable but overall similar to the Was this a tactic to avoid or delay 2005. The Studland Bay Sea-Eagle windfarm nests, and the proportion scrutiny by Australians? Or to imply nest was not monitored since 2006 successful is at least 0.71 (i.e. greater poor scholarship (as in the court case) (why?), and there is no discussion of than for the windfarm nests!), the above by those who overlooked for a time the possibility that a pair established caveats about sample sizes, alternative these obscure (to some) places to find and bred successfully at Bluff Point nests etc. notwithstanding. There were Australian research that should be in when Wedge-tail nest activity and also no confirmed zero years from 2006 the Australian high-end literature? success there appeared to be (the ‘bad’ year, and indeed from 2004) to declining (cf. their Table 2 – only one 2009 for the three continuously or the other Wedge-tail was active in monitored non-windfarm nests; their most years since 2004, neither in combined success over 2004–09 is at 2006). least 0.78 (‘?’ in 2007).

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Table 2 of Hull et al. (2013a) reorganised to separate windfarm nests from non-windfarm (A = active, S = successful, 1 = yes, 0 = no; prA = proportion of known nests active, prS = proportion of active nests successful): Site 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 prA prS A S A S A S A S A S A S WF: 1 1 0 – 0 – 1 0 1 1 0 0 0.5 0.67 1 1 1 1 0 – 1 0 0 – 1 0 0.67 0.5

prA 1.0 0.5 0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.58

prS* 1.0 1.0 0 0 1.0 0 0.57

NonWF: 0 – 0 – 0 – – – – – – – 0 N/A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ?** 1 1 1 1 1.0 0.83 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 1 1? 1 1 0.33 1.0

1 0 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – – 0 0.2 0 – – – – – – 0 – – – – 0 0 N/A – – 1 1 1 0 1 1 – – – – 1.0 0.67 – – – – – – 1 1 1 0 0 0 0.67 0.5

prA 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.75 0.67 0.52

prS* 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.67 0.67 1.0 0.71

* = young/active nest in Tas. where successful brood size = 1 **treated as a zero by Hull, hence values in the prS row (0.67) and column (0.83, 0.71) are minima

Given the above matters, there is no justification for the claim that there was no difference in Wedge-tailed Eagle productivity at Bluff Point versus off site, or that eagle productivity may even have been higher at windfarms than off site. (The latter claim was based on the Studland Bay Sea-Eagle nest for the years before the construction-phase windfarm actually became operational, then monitoring there ceased!). Hull was an industry employee and an editor of the conference proceedings, and some of her co-authors or co-editors were also either industry employees or consultants to the industry, and one therefore suspects that had the 2013a paper been submitted to an Australian high-end journal it may have been subjected to more rigorous, independent (objective) scrutiny, per review and editing. Despite the claims by Hull et al. (2013a) concerning eagle productivity, more rigorous studies with better sample sizes and design still find lower eagle productivity at windfarms than away from windfarms, and the driving factor is turbine mortality of breeding adults (e.g. Balotari-Chiebao et al. 2016). For long- lived, slowly reproducing species such as large eagles, adult mortality is a key factor in population dynamics, and local windfarm mortalities potentially create a continental-scale population sink (Katzner et al. 2016).

References Balotari-Chiebao, F., Brommer, J.E., Niinimäki, T. & Laaksonen, T. (2016). Proximity to wind-power plants reduces the breeding success of the White-tailed Eagle. Animal Conservation 19: 265–272. Debus, S. (2017). Australasian Eagles and Eagle-like Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Hull, C.L. & Muir, S.C. (2013). Behavior and turbine avoidance rates of eagles at two wind farms in Tasmania, Australia. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37(1): 49–58. Hull, C.L., Sims, C., Stark, E. & Muir, S. (2013a). Results and analysis of eagle studies from the Bluff Point and Studland Bay wind farms. In Bennett, E., Hull, C., Lau, J. Smales, I., Stark, E. & Venosta, M. (Eds), Proceedings of the First Australian Wind and Wildlife Conference. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, October 2012, pp. 2002–2012. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Hull, C.L., Stark, E.M., Peruzzo, S. & Sims, C.A. (2013b). Avian collisions at two wind farms in Tasmania, Australia: Taxonomic and ecological characteristics of colliders versus non-colliders. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 40: 47–62. Katzner, T. et al. (2016). Golden Eagle fatalities and the continental-scale consequences of local wind-energy generation. Conservation Biology 31: 406–415. Stephen Debus …and latest news from Nick Mooney is that Woolnorth (Bluff Point + Studland Bay) windfarm (which also runs Musselroe Bay) wanted James Pay (PhD UTAS) to track some young eagles on their place last year, but they didn't have a productive nest! (Ed.)

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Island Ninox owls Further to the recent paper on speciation in small Ninox owls on Australasian islands (Chyi Yin Gwee et al. in Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution– see Literature, p. 24), we now have DNA evidence that King Island Boobooks get to Victoria at least occasionally, but: (a) we still have no evidence of a regular migration, and (b) nobody has been able to find a N. leucopsis specimen recently in Victoria [although there are claimed sightings and photographs –Ed.]. All the museum specimens are around 20–25+ years old. How come? This matter is important, because leucopsis seems to be an island species so it may be threatened, and someone should determine with certainty whether Tasmanian Boobooks are migratory or not. Jerry Olsen

High-elevation Wedge-tailed Eagle nests We have a few higher-elevation Wedge-tailed Eagle nest in high forest in the ACT, in Namadgi National Park south of Canberra. On 7 March 2017 we measured with GPS a nest in a high tree with two adults perched nearby. The base of the nest tree was 1152 m asl. This is the highest elevation nest we’ve measured in the ACT, so far, and we’ll check other nests to see if there are any higher, but we wonder if there would be higher nests in northern NSW or Qld where the winters aren’t so harsh. We’d like to hear from other researchers with Wedgie nests at higher elevations confirmed by GPS Wedge-tailed nest tree: Photo– S Trost & J Olsen (not guessed at from a map).

Jerry Olsen & Susan Trost How the world’s fastest bird will make aircraft safer An article under this title, by Brendan Nicholson, appeared in The Australian of 3 April 2017 (courtesy Waiting to see if David Whelan has PF photo of Hugh Ford). British scientists are studying the and aerodynamics of the Peregrine Falcon in to inspire new technologies to make aircraft safer, more aerodynamically effective and more fuel efficient. They are investigating how the Falcon is able to stay in control and airborne at speeds of up to [allegedly] 390 km/h [surely an exaggeration – Ed.]. They suggest that by mimicking the Falcon’s sensory feathers (angle detectors) and ruffled feathers on the upperwing at low speeds, aircraft designers may be able to get planes to land at lower speeds, be more agile in manoeuvring to avoid obstacles in flight, have a more compact design or greater fuel capacity, and reduce aircraft noise. Further details are in the article, which might still be available online for those keen to search.

Peregrine Falcon: Photo—David Whelan

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The trial use of microchips on rehabilitated raptors in sought from Edda Pohlandt (Falcon Veterinary Group, UK). Perth Consequently, the method of application employed by this With urban sprawl, birds of prey increasingly come into practice was adopted. Destron Fearing™ LifeChip ® Injectable contact with the activities of Man, and as many as many as microchips were recommended for this purpose (Edda 200 raptors may pass through licensed rehabilitation Pohlandt pers.comm.). These are roughly the size of a grain of facilities in the Perth Metropolitan Area in some years (S. rice, and coated with a patented anti-migration biocompatible Payne unpubl.). The primary focus of rehabilitators is the material (BioBond®), which secures the microchip to the return of birds to their natural environment according to a administration site, preventing subcutaneous migration. code of ethics (DEC 2008) and, where possible, birds are These microchips each possess a unique 15 digit ISO11784 released at the exact locality of origin. However, several compliant number which was checked before and after assumptions are made at this point and in many cases, due insertion by means of a Trovan™ LID 560 ISO multi reader (ISO to time elapsed, individual birds may have been replaced FDX-B and FDX-A microchip compatible). The unique numbers within a territory, or may be exposed to the same threat were registered on a spreadsheet against details of the bird, that originally brought them into care. including standard mensural data (as per Fox 1995). Initial application of microchips took place at the Vet West Animal Banding of rehabilitated birds for the purposes of data Hospital in Canning Vale. Once confident of the method, collection has become standard practice in many parts of processing was conducted by the author and standard the world (e.g. Martell et al. 2000; SANCCOB 2012; Sherley mensural data recorded as part of the procedure. After the 2011). Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags have first year only birds in the direct care of the author were however been employed for some time as an alternative, included, as sufficient history was not readily available for particularly in the monitoring of falcons. In a sustainable birds received from other sources in most cases. and well-coordinated operation, Saker Falcons Falco cherrug and Peregrine Falcons F. peregrinus that pass Microchips were administered in the absence of anaesthesia through the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Scheme are and generally shortly before release, in order to reduce the microchipped and entered on a database that holds potential for development of ‘fear’ reaction in subject relevant records submitted by veterinarians and individuals while still in care. These were inserted fieldworkers affiliated to the Middle Eastern Falcon subcutaneously (as opposed to intramuscularly) and an Recovery Group (MEFRG). This method is particularly assistant was required in order to restrain the bird at this useful for those species in high demand for trade or point. The head of the bird was covered with a light calico bag . As trappers or dealers may easily remove rings in order to minimize stress and to ensure that the bird (bands) these are not considered as a reliable permanent remained as immobile as possible during the procedure. The marking method in this context (Barton 2003). bird was held with its back flat on a suitable surface, while the assistant parted the feathers over the sternum. The entry site The Australian Bird and Banding Scheme (ABBBS) was thoroughly cleaned and down feathers in the immediate rarely approve projects if the research relies heavily on vicinity plucked in order to prevent contamination, whilst the public recoveries to generate the bulk of the data (ABBBS applicator was removed from the sterile packaging, ensuring policy). As a result, no widely used unique identification that the needle did not come into contact with any unsterilized method is currently employed to assist in measurement of surface. The needle of the applicator was held at a shallow rehabilitation success in Western Australia. Other missed angle (around 20 degrees) laterally and parallel to the sternum opportunities include lack of data collection on factors such and inserted beneath the skin towards the anterior of the bird, as local movements, territorial fidelity, mortality, longevity, with the chamfered side of the needle facing upwards. This and recruitment of birds of prey in the region. Information was not inserted directly over the keel, but was applied of this nature is important in determining the status of local approximately 5 to 12 mm laterally from the sternum populations, as well as forming a basis for future release (depending on size of the species involved) and around 1 to and possible conservation strategies. Due to this lack of a 2mm below the skin surface. The needle was pushed 10 to chiefly self-sustaining marking scheme for rehabilitated 15mm under the skin. Once the PIT was inserted via the birds of prey, a three-year pilot microchipping project was plunger, a finger was placed behind the PIT in order to keep it initiated in late 2011 in order to explore the potential use in place and to prevent outward migration. The puncture of PIT techniques as an alternative unique identification wound was then immediately closed and sealed with a drop of method for raptors released within the Perth Metropolitan tissue glue (3M™ Vetbond®) and the site immediately re- Area, as well as to compare the merits of this method with scanned in order to confirm successful insertion and accurate those of banding. record. Where possible, processed birds were released at or near to the known site of original collection. However, many of Methods the juvenile, immature and sub-adult birds were released at Information on the use of microchips on raptors and other suitable alternative sites. birds was sourced via Internet searches, reference to relevant printed material already known to the author, as As microchipping was being compared with standard ringing well as unpublished data derived from personal (banding), the method needed to be self-sustaining. It was observations and personal communications with other thus also necessary to test the response of relevant parties interested parties. Reference was also made to the current involved in the process. Upon commencement of the project, Australian Government (ABBBS) policy on banding of informative sheets (flyers) were distributed to local vets as well rehabilitated birds. The project was conducted under a as a well-known teaching pet emergency centre for the Regulation 17 licence granted by the Department of purposes of staff information. An updated admission sheet Environment and Conservation (now Department of Parks (prompting a microchip scan) was also provided. On and Wildlife). Microchipping was initially conducted subsequent visits (over the following three months), reception according to the Standard Operating Procedure for was casually reminded of the microchip trial. An additional LID permanent marking of using microchips (DEC 560 ISO multi reader was provided to a participating raptor 2009). However, after taking into account the potential for rehabilitation facility and similar reminders provided over this a protracted recovery period due to damage to vital pectoral initial period. muscles in raptors, additional advice on the matter was

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After this initial introductory period, little reinforcement was offered, with subsequent reminders being offered only on an ad hoc basis.

Results Despite initial expectations, only a relatively small number of raptors were microchipped by the end of the three-year period covered by the permit (Table 1). This was mainly due to lack of data relating to the exact locality of origin for many birds, which necessitated their exclusion from the trial. Out of a total of 29 raptors belonging to 9 species, 28 of these were eventually released; however, no recoveries have been recorded to date. It was, however, noted that all subject birds released showed no apparent ill effects, and indeed three juvenile Nankeen released together within an hour of processing, all flew well and immediately launched into mutual aerial interaction.

Although difficult to assess with a high degree of certainty, it appeared that general levels of awareness amongst participants in the rehabilitation chain gradually waned in the absence of sustained reinforcement.

Table 1: Raptors microchipped in Perth Metropolitan Area 2011–2015

Species Microchipped Microchip no. Released Release location Ninox boobook ocellata 21/08/2011 985170000133484 04/09/2011 -31.9970225,115.8619664* Ninox boobook ocellata 01/09/2011 985170000134577 04/09/2011 -31.9591788,115.8762814* Ninox boobook ocellata 06/10/2011 985170000131329 23/10/2011 -31.8415305,115.8300651* Ninox boobook ocellata 06/10/2011 985170000132370 07/10/2011 -31.9784416,115.9398885* Tyto alba 11/10/2011 985170000085374 23/10/2011 -31.8361083,115.8196979* axillaris 23/10/2011 985170000130186 N/A Died post-transfer Circus approximans 23/10/2011 985170000135186 04/12/2011 -32.1339829,115.8303825 Ninox boobook ocellata 04/12/2011 985170000131169 09/12/2011 -31.9976521,115.9575688* Ninox boobook ocellata 04/12/2011 985170000129486 12/01/2012 -32.0897295,115.9302133 Accipiter fasciatus fasciatus 04/02/2012 985170000136434 19/01/2012 -32.0666639,115.9720102* Ninox boobook ocellata 04/02/2012 985170000132496 N/R -31.7920829,116.0795285* Ninox boobook ocellata 13/07/2012 985154000213047 15/07/2012 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Ninox boobook ocellata 13/07/2012 985154000213077 15/07/2012 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Ninox boobook ocellata 13/07/2012 985154000213197 15/07/2012 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Tyto alba 13/07/2012 985170000136987 15/07/2012 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Hieraaetus morphnoides 05/08/2012 985170000138799 07/08/2012 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Tyto alba 15/09/2012 985154000212759 16/09/2012 -32.0762418,115.9011945 Tyto alba 22/09/2012 985154000212757 23/09/2012 -32.0465804,115.8340505* Tyto alba 20/10/2012 985154000212756 21/10/2012 -32.0555205,115.7658761 Falco peregrinus macropus 22/12/2012 985154000212976 23/12/2012 -32.0566749,115.7584945* Accipiter fasciatus fasciatus 24/12/2012 985154000212994 24/12/2012 -32.0672169,115.9728875 Ninox boobook ocellata 04/03/2013 985154000212879 04/03/2013 -32.0629129,115.9338775* Falco cenchroides 07/04/2013 985154000213043 07/04/2013 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Falco cenchroides 07/04/2013 985154000212987 07/04/2013 -32.1625137,115.9299505 Falco cenchroides 07/04/2013 985154000212986 07/04/2013 -32.1625137,115.9299505* Ninox boobook ocellata 07/04/2013 985154000212998 07/04/2013 -32.0629129,115.9338775 Ninox boobook ocellata 24/05/2013 985154000212996 27/04/2013 -31.9736972,115.8512053* Tyto alba 05/10/2013 985144000212944 05/10/2013 -32.0555205,115.7658761* haliaetus cristatus 14/06/2015 985154000212992 20/06/2015 -32.0406055,115.8508412*

*Bird released at or near site of original collection (locations provided per updated map data 2017 ©Google).

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Microchip applicator: Photo– Vienessa Goodwin Application of microchip in a : Photo– Vienessa Goodwin Discussion Perth Metropolitan Area is particularly keeping and submission remains key to The understanding of species limited. Apart from the need for an the success of any such scheme. dynamics and the development of initial invasive procedure, subsequent proven rehabilitation techniques for ‘invisibility’ of the microchip is a major As the primary aim of the ABBBS is to birds of prey are becoming issue, as initial reporting or collection support bona fide research on healthy, increasingly important. Unique of injured raptors relies heavily on the wild animals, the banding of rehabilitated marking of individual birds is general public. Deceased birds are birds (and bats) is not encouraged, and in particularly useful in the also rarely collected unless visibly recent years, only a limited number of investigation of factors such as local marked (pers. obs.). In the absence of rehabilitation projects have been movements, territory fidelity, a familiar and well-coordinated system, supported (ABBBS policy). Despite mortality, longevity, and recruitment. all parties in the rehabilitation chain sufficient data for many of the more Information of this nature is would naturally remain unaware of the common bird species, few projects have important in determining the status presence of any microchip within a wild thus far been analysed with a view to of local populations, as well as bird and would thus not scan for these. quantifying the effectiveness of forming a basis for future release Although the possibility remains that rehabilitation efforts. A noticeable and conservation strategies. some of the subject birds may be reluctance on the part of rehabilitation recovered at some time in the future, groups to publish results has also been In order to be proven as a suitable this now appears unlikely. As noted. Unlike Europe and North America alternative to banding of rehabilitators largely offer their services where the public returns a higher number rehabilitated birds of prey in the on a voluntary basis, the high cost of of bands, the population of Australia in Perth Metropolitan Area, any method microchips and scanners would act as relation to the size of the continent results needs to meet the following criteria: an additional deterrent. Inadequate in a public recovery rate of less than 1%. a) It must be relatively ‘low effort’ record keeping would also naturally The ABBBS therefore rarely approves and chiefly self-sustaining stifle any efforts in this regard. projects on any birds in cases where the b) It must have minimal impact on researcher relies solely on public the birds During the corresponding period of the recoveries to generate the bulk of the c) It must be cost-effective microchip trial discussed here, the data. Another issue taken into d) It must be readily detectable by reporting and subsequent recovery of consideration is that of public perception, veterinarians, rehabilitators and the three banded (rehabilitated) birds of with many members of the public now general public prey by members of the general public being opposed to this perceived was notable. An adult male Peregrine interference (ABBBS policy). It should be Despite the sample being much Falcon was recovered alive within 4 km noted, however, that this has not smaller than initially envisaged, of the release site 10 years later, and prevented permitting of major schemes results still suggest that there are an immature female Peregrine Falcon such as the mass banding of waders several potential shortfalls regarding was recovered alive 68 days after (pers. obs.). the use of this method in this release and 17 km from the release context. Out of the total of 28 site. During the same period, a The ABBBS policy states that recovery of a microchipped raptors released Southern Boobook Ninox boobook was rehabilitated animal is unlikely to be during the trial, there have been no struck and killed by a motor vehicle 11 included in a biological study that recoveries to date. The method of years and 4 months after release, and examines general behaviour, migration or PIT application employed was within a kilometre of the release site survival in wild populations. A similar nevertheless effective, with no (S. Payne unpubl; W. Goodwin unpubl.). stance has traditionally been taken in adverse effects noted. Although This has provided useful information Southern , and it is considered that useful for coordinated schemes such and highlighted the merits of banding a high proportion of banding (ringing) as those undertaken by the Middle as a simple and reliable unique recoveries in rehabilitated birds of prey Eastern Falcon Recovery Group, the identification method for rehabilitated contributes little to our knowledge of their scope for general PIT use in the birds of prey. Again, diligent record natural behaviour.

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Banding has indeed shown that fledgling birds of prey not adequately ‘hacked’ experience poor survival and that owls most commonly fall into this category. Although the information gained is useful in itself, these figures do have the potential to skew data if not adequately recorded or separated at the time of analysis (Oatley et al. 1998). Despite this caveat, the Southern African ringing scheme has (since 1948) permitted the processing of many rehabilitated, hand-reared or relocated birds of prey. This process has contributed to the wealth of information on movement, distribution, mortality and longevity that has been gathered on many species, despite a similar low recovery rate to that of Australia (1%) with a similar reliance on the general public for the bulk of returns (Oatley et al. 1998; Botha 2011). It should also be taken into account that while some birds require extended care, others may require only a Banded Southern Boobook struck by a car short period of rest or recuperation, which may last hours or a few days. and subsequently collected by a member of If released at the locality of collection, the natural behaviour of these the public: Photo– Stuart Payne birds is unlikely to be greatly affected, and banding would, in such cases, be little different from trapping and banding techniques currently applied to other wild birds. This situation would warrant their inclusion in data References analysis for any future biological study, as long as adequate records are Australian Government, Australian Bird and Bat kept (pers. obs.). Analysis of 135 birds of prey (of 16 species) banded Banding Scheme (ABBBS). Policy Statement: and released between 1980 and 1994 by the Raptor Centre at the Banding of rehabilitated birds. GPO Box 8. University of Minnesota showed that the mean reporting rate for these Canberra, ACT 2601. birds was 8%, with owls being reported at a rate of 15.7% and other Barton, N.W.H. (2003). The Microchipping raptors at 5.6%. Survival rates varied between one and 458 weeks, with Scheme. Falco 22: 8–9. 50% of reports coming in more than 24 weeks after release. Nineteen of Botha, A. (2011). Ringing and colour marking of the 135 birds survived less than six weeks post release, and no raptors. Gabar 22: 44–46. significant difference was found in survival times based on injury, nor was DEC (2008). Minimum Standards for Wildlife there a significant relationship found between the amount of time a bird Rehabilitation in Western Australia: spent in rehabilitation and its post-release survival. They concluded that Department of Environment and rehabilitation can successfully return raptors to wild populations and that Conservation, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, banding is best combined with other techniques for in-depth analysis Kensington, Perth: ISBN 1 921094 13 3. (Martell et al. 2000). DEC (2009). Permanent marking of vertebrates using microchips: Recourse Condition As standard radio-tracking has been shown to be an effective technique Monitoring Project Standard Operating to collect more detailed and accurate information on movements within a Procedure No.12.1: (Version 1.0.). short period, this technique is now being endorsed by the ABBBS in place Department of Environment and of banding in many cases (ABBBS policy). Radio-tracking has indeed Conservation, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, been shown to be an effective technique to collect certain relevant Kensington, Perth. information within a short period. It should, however, be taken into Fox, N. (1995). Understanding the . account that standard transmitters are expensive and that this method Hancock House, Surrey, BC, Canada and requires a relatively high level of effort. As they have a limited battery life, Blaine, WA, USA. it also remains standard practice to band the subject birds in order to Goodwin, W.J. (2000). The Black Eagle radio gain longer-term information on factors such as longevity and mortality telemetry project in the Matobo Hills, (Goodwin 2000). Zimbabwe. In Chancellor, R.D. & Meyburg, B -U (Eds), Raptors at Risk: WWGBP/Hancock Conclusion House. As the sample size for this trial could probably not be considered as Martell, M.S., Goggin, J. & Redig, T. (2000). representative and no subsequent recoveries made, only limited results Assessing rehabilitation success of raptors could be obtained from this pilot. Notwithstanding, these results do through band returns. In Lumeij, J.T., appear to suggest that microchipping would not adequately meet all of Remple, D.J., Redig, P.T., Lierz, M. & Cooper, the four criteria required for effective use in the Perth Metropolitan Area. J.E. (Eds), Raptor Biomedicine III. Zoological Although this method appears to be an unsuitable option in this context, it Education Network, Inc. Lake Worth, Florida, nevertheless appears that it has potential for use in more controlled and USA. well-coordinated situations. This pilot also provided a practical learning Oatley, T.B., Oschadleus, H.D., Navarro, R.A. & opportunity with regard to the most appropriate method for insertion, to Underhill, L.G. (1998). Review of Ring enable subsequent release within a short period, with no apparent ill Recoveries of Birds of Prey in Southern effects. As banding of rehabilitated raptors (and other birds) is standard Africa: 1948–1998. Avian Demography Unit, practice in many parts of the world, there is some justification for this Department of Statistical Sciences, simple proven method to be endorsed by local authorities as part of a University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, standard rehabilitation and release strategy for raptors. South Africa. SANCCOB (2012). A ‘Swift ’ for the good. Acknowledgements Environment: People and Conservation in I thank Stuart and Amanda Payne of WA Conservation of Raptors for their Africa 11: 64. assistance and provision of unpublished records. Craig Challen and staff Sherley, R.B. (2011). Revealing the secret lives of of Vet West Animal Hospitals as well as the Animal Hospital at Murdoch African . Environment: People and and other private practices are acknowledged for their support and Conservation in Africa 8: 16–17. participation. The Department of Environment and Conservation (now DPaW) is also thanked for their permission to undertake the pilot project. Warren Goodwin (Email: [email protected])

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 16

Articles

Black-breasted Buzzard– rehab case notes In May of 2012 we received a call from Ian Falkenberg to co-ordinate collection of an injured Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon from Santos at Moomba. Mark Holdsworth had come across the bird on the Strzelecki Track while conducting work in the area, and Santos assisted the relocation for assessment and possible rehabilitation.

Santos staff had hastily built her a most ideal crate ready for the trip within hours of finding her: solid-walled MDF with air holes around the upper perimeter. They later asked me what the ideal crate would be for this type of patient and I simply replied “you’ve just built it”. Santos funded the to travel me on the next flight to Moomba in order to assess, and to provide any required initial treatment to increase her chances of survival.

I administered subcutaneous fluid therapy after finding she had been grounded for at least 10 days and suffered dehydration and emaciation. Once back in Adelaide I collected her from the freight Radiograph of metacarpal fracture depot and headed back to our facilities at Williamstown in the Adelaide Hills/Southern Barossa Valley. Prognosis

Generally this fracture carries an extremely poor Findings of examination on return: prognosis. However, that is usually due to  Female first-year bird with light plumage, 1000 g surrounding soft tissue inflammation, oedema and  Emaciated – body condition graded 2–3/5 chronic conditions such as arthritis. Due to the fact  Dehydrated 10–15% that the adjacent joints were unaffected, there was guarded but hopeful prognosis.  Mid-shaft fracture of metacarpal bone, demonstrating callus

around fracture site indicating around 2 weeks or so of healing Radiographs time from initial injury. Due the fragile condition of the bird in the first 48  The metacarpal bone is not unlike an O shape and only one side hrs it was decided that further transport and was fractured, so the other side was acting as a splint during this handling would cause more harm than good, so time, and healing was progressing reasonably well without radiographs were avoided until they could provide obviously having any treatment while wandering on the ground. some use. After 26 years of developing intuitive  The joints either side of the fx site were strangely unaffected and sight in my hands I infrequently use them, unless I mobile; there was no sign of oedema or inflammation of soft tissue am unable to palpate and diagnose with fingers. (most injuries in this area of the wing are complicated and result in More and more these days vets will not take wing-tip oedema and arthritic joint disease and stiffness). radiographs without anaesthesia also, which is the  Two broken central tail feathers approximately 2.5 cm from the final nail in the coffin for a raptor already suffering skin, but imping possible at a later date. potential organ failure from dehydration or  Lice of varying ages, indicating also the time-frame on the ground emaciation. I do have one very precious vet locally and her state of poor health. that will still sandbag and lead glove with our assistance, and take x-rays without chemical Treatment provided: restraint in quieter birds, even Peregrines on  Subcutaneous fluid therapy twice daily for 48 hrs more occasion!

Heat and crate rest for 24 hrs  Radiographs were taken at the Companion Animal  Vetrap strapping Fig 8 (surgery not an option due to advanced Health Centre (University of Adelaide, School of stage of fracture healing before rescue) Animal & Veterinary Science) by Dr Wayne  Surgical treatment would only have resulted in complications in Boardman on Day 10 to assess fracture healing. such a delicate area of the wing, plus the fracture was progressing Their state-of-the-art new machines produce well at the time of finding the bird. amazing pictures. The images confirmed what was palpated on initial examination by myself, and  Strapping causes stiffness of joints and is most often avoided indicated a good result in fracture repair with a except where there is no alternative, as was this case. This often strong bony callus over the site. Once again the also applies to a raptor that presents with severe dehydration and joints were free, but to a minor degree the emaciation where anaesthesia tolerance is low. Humeral fractures strapping had caused stiffness overall in the wing of course have no other choice and must be pinned. Of course, in joints. The bone was measured and had only reality having the right vet on hand at that moment is also an suffered 1 mm shortening which was acceptable. ongoing challenge for us. Prognosis was still quite hopeful but flight would tell.

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 17

Articles

Facilities Following fruitless calls to almost every wildlife park in Her convalescence spanned the duration of our miserable drizzly Australia to obtain some donor feathers from captive Adelaide Hills winter, and despite logs, 45-degree angle ladders to , a very helpful Damien from the Territory perches and other quirky ideas she would not leave the ground. Wildlife Park near Darwin offered to collect some tail Coming the conclusion from her behaviour that this was no regular feathers from roadkill. He found two sets of raptor, I decided to construct a small tent shelter in the corner of migrans and one set of the enclosure, which within hours she began to use when it sphenurus feathers on the side of the road. He was drizzled or rained and continued to feel comfortable retreating into. then obliged to apply for a permit to post them to SA She clearly missed her desert sun. according to state laws. This took a further 3 weeks waiting on feathers, but finally the feathers were posted She spent all but the first 2 days in a flight enclosure constructed complete with a fancy glossy laminated permit. of shade-cloth and nylon netting 13 m x 13 m x 6 m high. She Imping was performed on her tail the evening before remained grounded until the strapping was removed, and spent a flight. She was then placed in the crate ready for the further 7–10 days beginning to stretch and trying to use the wing early morning trip to the airport. This eliminated any again. Pain was shown on any movement initially, but each day chance of her breaking the new feathers before release. improvement was noted, flying short bursts across a few metres or so. Imping involves cutting the bird’s broken feathers back, modelling shafts made of carbon fibre rod or fibreglass The behaviour of a Buzzard in captivity compared to the common rods (in this case carbon fibre). They are glued into the species we often see was like nothing else; she was special, calm centre of donor feather medulla, then the bird’s feather and a joy to have (unlike the feisty Southern Boobook or stressed medulla is glued to the other half of the shaft. This kites). process is time consuming, stressful for the bird but very successful and will last her until she moults out for new Within 4.5 weeks of her arrival she finally flew and circled the feathers. Special attention is given to match the angle, aviary, drooping the wing on occasion after flight, indicating some size and shape of the feathers, as well as tail length and pain and stiffness, but after a further 2 weeks or so she began to shape. fly faster and longer, showing no stiffness or pain. Full extension of the wing was obtained and there was no evident droop or As there were not enough Buzzard feathers available, the Black Kite was the most suitable and was used. This miscarriage on resting. This particular winter was severe and I would give her the braking ability and manoeuvrability think mobility would have been sooner given some warmer she needs to catch her prey and get herself out of weather or if it had occurred over summer. Mark Holdsworth did trouble. Without this process she had a large gap in the note on finding her that the injury was not overly evident, centre of her tail and would find it difficult to manoeuvre considered a lucky patient for this type of injury. An exercise and brake. Two Buzzard and three Black Kite female program began to increase flight and fitness; her calm nature and feathers were used. The Black Kite feathers were a bit appropriate facilities assisted the flight program. small in the shaft as we had to cut their length, but worked fine. Feeding Rabbit, pigeon and other birds, rats, etc. Birds were preferred to all other prey. She took great delight in completely stripping and picking clean the skulls, which I have not seen to this degree with Prepared donor feathers with carbon shafts other raptors. Photo–Anita Corbran

Feather damage She began with the two broken tail feathers on arrival – having spent so much time on the ground before Mark had found her. Due to spending several weeks on the grassy substrate of the flight enclosure and having the weak area in the centre of the tail where the two were missing, she had broken a further two tail feathers. Another was worn so it was also flagged for repair.

Steve McKecknie at Gorge Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills has an aggressive Buzzard or two in captivity, and offered to extract feathers, so during full force of a personal kamikaze attack he reached for the tail and manage to get two beautiful Buzzard feathers.

We began searching roads and contacting local rangers for kite roadkill as a source of donor feathers. Typically, the roads were bare! Another factor was that my reserve feather bank had suffered a recent moth attack and were not up to scratch – moth balls now in action.

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 18

Articles

Santos once again flew me to Moomba to facilitate the release. A turf block was placed inside the crate after imping the night before the trip, and she remained calmly on this block for the overnight sleep, the 1 hr car trip to the airport the next morning and the flight and freight depot transfers – arriving in perfect feather condition.

From the Moomba airport we drove to within a few kilometres her original site. This was close to an elongated watercourse. While travelling to the site I noted the sky in Moomba filled with thousands of Black and Whistling Kites. The last 2 years of rain and the Queensland floods had filled the Cooper Basin, the Cooper’s Creek flowing only just under the Innamincka causeway. Half the roads in the Innamincka were still closed off. The flight facility used: Photo–Anita Corbran The Santos staff member graciously performed the release, she flew well and headed for the distant watercourse, during which we continued to watch in awe as she circled and assessed her old surroundings. I was given a ‘royal’ tour of the area for the day and returned back to Adelaide at the end of the day. Reward in this business is infrequent, but very long lasting in memory. Of the 26 years rehabbing raptors she remains my favourite patient.

Anita Corbran – SA Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Centre

Black-breasted Buzzard with strapped wing in enclosure: Photo–Anita Corbran

Arrival in Moomba for release: Photo–Anita Corbran Lift-off on the Strzelecki Track: Photo–Anita Corbran

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 19

Articles

Release of a juvenile Kestrel on the Gudgenby Plain On 24 February 2017 we released a juvenile male Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides, with no hunting experience, on the edge of Gudgenby Plain in Namadgi National Park in the ACT. The Kestrel was released at 1021m above sea level, but was fledged at a nest in the south Canberra suburb of Oxley at around 600 m elevation. Why release it 38 km south- east of Oxley at higher elevation Gudgenby?

This male went through one or two care organisations, had no hunting experience, and due to some stress- related problems had dropped feathers while in care. Colin kept it in a flight pen to grow feathers back, giving the kestrel a half-adult, half-juvenile tail. When we visited the Kestrel’s suburban nest site in Oxley, the Kestrel family was gone and food was sparse, so we decided not to release him near his home nest, as is the general rule for a just-fledged raptor that comes into care.

But in Namadgi in the southern ACT above 1000 metres there was a locust plague, mostly Australian Plague Locust Chortoicetes terminifera and Yellow- winged Locust Gastrimargus musicus, and a House Mouse Mus musculus plague. Just-fledged groups of kestrels, 200 m apart, were perched, hovering, and hunting this abundant food. These locusts were flying into our open car windows and landing on the Colin MacLaren releasing Kestrel: Photo–S. Trost & J. Olsen dashboard.

We banded the juvenile Kestrel and turned him loose there, worried that his half-grey tail might draw a territorial response. It didn’t. He flew well, landed in a large tree, roused, gave cac-cac calls several times and watched the other Kestrels. We hoped he would join one of these Kestrel families.

As far as we could tell it worked fine. On 7 March 2017 we visited Gudgenby and believe we saw the with another, hovering over open ground. The ranger there, Ben O’Brien, said he would look out for it.

Thanks to Ben O’Brien, and to the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme and David Drynan. Jerry Olsen, Susan Trost and Colin MacLaren

Yellow-winged Locust, Kestrel prey at Gudgenby: Photo– S. Trost & J. Olsen Banded, released Kestrel: Photo– S. Trost & J. Olsen

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 20

Articles

ACT Little Eagle migrates to Daly Waters (NT) In previous publications, for example Olsen et al. (2008, 2009), we proposed radio-tagging Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides in the ACT because home ranges recognised by planners and government agencies were much too small. The first Little Eagle we radio-tagged was a juvenile male. The area of his home range increased in size progressively over the 12 weeks of the post-fledging period, from 0.001 km2 minimum convex polygon (MCP) in Week 1 after fledging, to 3.085 km2 MCP in Week 12 after fledging, just before he dispersed from the natal area. The juvenile gradually moved his night roosts from 140 m away from the nest in Week 1 to 900 m from the nest in Week 12 (Olsen et al. 2015 and in press).

In 2015, after the Little Eagle breeding attempt failed at Strathnairn Art Galleries, JO ABBBS-banded, colour- banded, and satellite-tagged the adult male. The Little Eagle used a large home range in 2015–2016 after his breeding failure, about 65 km2, then he disappeared and the transmitter stopped working, so it wasn’t clear where he spent the winter.

In the spring of 2016 he returned and he and his mate fledged a single young, then he left in late summer and the transmitter continued working as he migrated. The male Little Eagle’s flight path stretched 3,300 km north to an area near Daly Waters in the Northern Territory. He travelled the distance in a three-week period, 1800 km in the first 8 days, and Satellite-tagged adult male Little Eagle: Photo– S. Trost & J. Olsen during his journey reached speeds of up to 55 km/hr.

At the time of writing his transmitter has stopped …latest news (11/08/17) is that the tagged eagle has returned to working again, but hopefully it will restart and he will his Strathnairn territory in the ACT (Geoffrey Dabb per Don return to Strathnairn. As he is colour-banded, we should be able to identify him if he returns, even if the Fletcher and Jerry Olsen). This is exciting as the first evidence that transmitter fails. breeding Little Eagles undertake intra-continental migration. Note also the movement of a juvenile Little Eagle from near Perth to Thanks to Stephen Debus for helpful comments, to eastern Vic. (Debus 2015, Corella 39: 67–72). (Ed.) David Drynan and the ABBBS for advice on banding, and to David Maxwell for access to the Strathnairn property. Thanks also to Geoffrey Dabb, Michael Lenz, Peter Christian, Colin MacLaren, Mark Osgood, Dalice Trost, Rosemary Blemings and Tom Long for advice and assistance in the field, and to Bern Gruber and Renee Brawata for analysing data.

References Olsen, J., Osgood, M. Maconachie, M. & Dabb, G. (2008). Numbers of breeding Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides in the Australian Capital Territory in 2007. Canberra Bird Notes 33: 77– 80. Olsen, J., Osgood, M., Maconachie, M., Dabb, V & Butterfield, M. (2009). Numbers of breeding Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides in the Australian Capital Territory in 2008. Canberra Bird Notes 34: 81–85. Olsen, J., Long, T. & Trost, S. (2015). A radio-tagged Little Eagle. Canberra Bird Notes 40: 276–277. Olsen, J., Trost, S., Gruber, B. & Long, T. (in press). Home-range and behaviour of a fledgling Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides in the Australian Capital Territory. Corella.

Figure 1: The adult male Little Eagle travelled from the ACT to an Jerry Olsen and Susan Trost area near Daly Waters in the Northern Territory source: ABC News 21 April 2017

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 21

Field Notes

Peregrine Falcon interacting with Red Goshawk nesting observations Black Falcons On 21 May 2017 I observed a male Red Goshawk radiatus Early on the morning of 19 December starting to build a nest in the Lilyvale Road area, between Musgrave and 2016, at Wilby (Vic.), I came across an Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula (Qld). This area is well known for adult female Peregrine Falcon Falco the nesting of this species. The following observations were made over a two- peregrinus trying to take a dead Pink- hour period starting at 0730 h. Only the male Goshawk was present and nest- eared Duck Malacorhynchus building. He did not vocalise during the two hours. The nest site was in a Darwin membranaceus off the middle of the road, Stringybark Eucalyptus tetrodonta at least 30 m tall, the nest ~5 m from the top. so I pulled over to watch. She finally This was almost certainly the first day of construction. The Goshawk was grabbed the duck after many attempts. A observed to collect sticks only from trees, not from the ground. He snapped pair of Black Falcons Falco subniger tried sticks from trees, or collected loose sticks caught within trees. Sticks were to take the dead duck from the female generally collected from within 100 m of the nest site. There was a large Peregrine, when out of nowhere a male variation in stick dimension, length and complexity. At this early stage of Peregrine came in and attacked the Black construction, many sticks fell from the nest site after placement, and there Falcons, chasing them away. seemed to be little strategy in stick placement or fine-tuning of stick position. In my experience of observing half a dozen nests or more, the current nest site is a Brendan Toll, Vic. Birdline 19.12.2016 per little unusual as the nest tree is not immediately beside the road. Also very David Whelan subjective, but the nest branch is a little less flat and less open than I’ve observed previously.

Murray Hunt, Birding-Aus 23.05.2017 per Shirley Cook

…I wonder if Murray would document (publish) what he knows from a very respectable sample size of nests for this rare species, and/or so inform the Red Goshawk Recovery Team (i.e. Rich Seaton, who is working on the Goshawk on the Cape). (Ed.) Conference Abstracts Raptor Research Foundation 2015 Conference, Sacramento, California

Does urbanisation have the potential to create an ecological trap for Powerful Owls Ninox strenua?

*BRONWYN ISAAC ([email protected]), School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. RAYLENE COOKE, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia. DANIEL IERODIACONOU, School of Life and Little Eagle with Crested Pigeon: Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, VIC Australia. JOHN Photo– Bernie McRitchie WHITE, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.

Landscape transformation associated with urbanisation is one of the most Little Eagle takes Crested Pigeon damaging and pervasive impacts on natural ecosystems. The response of At Mossfiel Reserve, Hoppers Crossing species to increasing urbanisation has become a major focus of research (suburban near Werribee, Vic.), on 29 May globally. Powerful Owls are a top-order predator capable of residing in urban environments, but increasing urbanisation has been demonstrated to reduce 2017 at around midday, a Little Eagle available habitat. Powerful Owls only use tree cavities for nesting, so the cue for Hieraaetus morphnoides flew over then settlement is associated with the presence of habitat and food, meaning stooped to the ground where it caught a breeding requirements may be disconnected from settlement requirements. Our Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes. It results demonstrate that the incorporation of a general prey resource as a cue used the ‘heart’ shape to dive at the for settlement does not reduce the amount of available habitat for Powerful Owls pigeon, like a dart at a bullseye! The other substantially across the gradient. Further constraining the model with a tree pigeons had left the scene, but this one cavity resource, leads to a substantial reduction in Powerful Owl habitat in the was a bit too slow or unwary. I think I saw urban and urban fringe environments. If a diverse prey resource is used as the the same pigeon, the previous week, do cue for settlement, a substantial reduction in available habitat occurs in urban the same thing. The other pigeons environments. Incorporation of tree cavities into this model does not reduce the responded immediately to some alarm available habitat for Powerful Owls substantially. We propose that Powerful Owls calls, while one pigeon stayed put for an do not need a diverse prey base for survival, and that breeding resources are extra while. It paid dearly this time unlikely to be a cue for settlement. As such, we believe that increasing though. The eagle then took it to a nearby urbanisation has the potential to create an ecological trap for Powerful Owls as tree and ate it. All within 100 metres of there is a significant difference between habitat capable of supporting Powerful Owls, and habitat in which owls can breed. Management of Powerful Owls in onlookers! urban environments will be difficult, but this research highlights the potential for Bernie McRitchie the use of nest boxes to enhance the breeding activities in increasingly urbanised environments. Replacement of this critical resource maybe able to reverse any potential ecological trap that is occurring.

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 22

Conference Abstracts International News Ornithogenic fire: Raptors as the success of the project in actively Newly developed camera system to propagators of fire in the Australian engaging members of the community aid the EWT in prevention of to be involved in and to promote savanna conservation will be ongoing. powerline collisions *ROBERT A. GOSFORD Empowerment of members of the The Endangered Wildlife Trust recently ([email protected]), Ethnoornithology community has led to self-generated took another important step towards Research and Study Group, Darwin, projects specifically associated with minimising the impact of power lines on Northern Territory, Australia. MARK forest and fauna conservation, birds. As part of a long-term strategic BONTA, Earth Sciences, Penn State including a radio show, primary- partnership with Eskom, two specially University, Altoona, PA, USA. school education programs and designed cameras were fitted to a stretch books. Breeding success of the 128 of power line in De Aar located in the Birds have long been regarded as key taxa Powerful Owl territories monitored in Northern Cape Province of South Africa, for the study of the impact of fire in the the 2016–17 breeding season was with the aim of better understanding, and Australian savanna woodlands, with most 80%, with an average fledging rate of therefore minimising, the threats to birds studies concentrating on the effect of fire 1.24 chicks/year, higher than both from energy infrastructure. upon bird populationsand their habitats. the previous estimate of success Fire in Australian savanna woodlands and generated by the project in 2015–16 The Bird Detection System (BDS) is a the rest of the Australian continent has two (1.22 chicks/year) and the 0.9 South African-designed concept that uses commonly accepted sources, chicks/year typical of less urban a high-resolution camera with image anthropogenic and lightning. Here we Powerful Owls. Radio tracking over processing capabilities to detect examine the as yet elusive but compelling the 2016–17 breeding season movement, including birds, in the frame. evidence that two common Australian identified Owls in highly urbanised It was designed when the EWT expressed raptors, the Brown Falcon Falco berigora areas travelling five times further a need for an affordable, versatile and the Black Kite Milvus migrans, are than those in less urbanised areas, product that would assist in the research responsible for intentional fire propagation and highlighted the importance of of bird collisions. After three years of in Australian savanna woodlands. even small green patches within the hard work, dedication and testing, the Australian Aboriginal traditional knowledge cityscape as focal stepping stones product was ready to be trialled out in the and management of the Australian for Owls moving through the urban field. The BDS, which is solar powered, is environment, long derided as having no landscape. The urban Powerful Owl the first real-time system to transmit data scientific validity, is increasingly being population continues to experience such as video clips or photos directly to a accepted as a key element in annual mortality of up to 10% of the user’s cell phone or data bank, with contemporary land management. Our population through car strike, with information uploaded straight to a cloud analysis of the anthropological, linguistic electrocution accounting for a further server for easy retrieval. This enables and first-person accounts of birds as 5% of the documented mortalities. team members to count birds, identify propagators of fire in the Australian Anecdotal reports suggest glass species, and observe behaviour. The landscape provides evidence of the veranda fences pose a significant software and settings can also be previously unrealised role of these raptors and increasing risk to Powerful Owls configured remotely, eliminating the need as regional and local-scale manipulators of when they back on to green spaces for field maintenance, while the camera landscape. The importance of the role of like riparian zones, with several has an hourly self-check system and birds and fire in many traditional Aboriginal documented mortalities throughout reboots every 24 hours. The BDS is fully ceremonies and legend supports this the study area associated with adaptable to user requirements, and can conclusion and we discuss the significance collisions with these fences. Diet in also be used during Environmental of this knowledge to local Aboriginal highly urbanised Powerful Owls Impact Assessments as a tool for people, the role of the birds-and-fire nexus includes terrestrial fauna such as specialists conducting surveys. as an example of ornithogenic service rabbits and semi-arboreal fauna provision and the potential implications of such as rats. Owls holding territories Eight years of research have shown that this research for fire management in in less dense urban areas are eating the installation location in De Aar is the Australian savanna woodlands and similar proportions of rabbits and most impacted by bird mortalities, beyond. fewer rats, but all urban Owls in the making it an ideal site for this trial. The population sampled eat greater EWT Wildlife and Energy Programme proportions of Common Brushtail Manager, Constant Hoogstad, says, “This Possums and fewer invertebrates device will enable us to gather BirdLife Southern NSW seminar information about the time of day or night day 18 March 2017 than their forest-dwelling counterparts. This dietary shift has these collisions occur, what the weather Citizen Science makes a powerful the potential to increase mortality in conditions are like at the time, and the difference for owls urban populations through behaviour of the bird right before colliding BETH MOTT ([email protected]), secondary poisoning. Ongoing with a power line. This will give us far Powerful Owl Project Officer, BirdLife conservation efforts include greater insight into what causes these Australia Discovery Centre advocacy focussed on retaining collisions and allow us to find more critical habitat features such as effective ways to reduce them.” Since 2011 the Powerful Owl Project has hollow-bearing trees and preferred Contacts: Constant Hoogstad, Manager: continued to generate valuable information species of roost trees and roost Wildlife and Energy Programme, about urban Powerful Owl Ninox strenua microhabitats, and mapping and Endangered Wildlife Trust, E ecology in Greater Sydney through the managing mortality hotspots in [email protected]; Belinda Glenn, efforts of 350 project volunteers, and with conjunction with local land Communication and Brand Manager, outreach via the media to over 1 million managers. Endangered Wildlife Trust, E people. The 23% increase in uptake of [email protected] volunteers to the project in 2017 and the persistence of existing volunteers suggests

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 23

International News

Raptors Are The Solution Raptors Are the Solution (RATS) educates people about the ecological role of birds of prey in urban and wild areas and about the danger they face from the widespread use of rat poison. RATS is a fiscally-sponsored project of Earth Island Institute, rated a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator. RATS raises all of our own funds through grants and donations. We partner with other nonprofits, agencies, scientists, cities, and others to work toward eliminating toxic rodenticides from the food web.

Our goal is to see all anticoagulant and other poisonous rodenticides taken off the market and no longer used by pest control companies due to their dangers to children, pets, and wildlife. Much of our work involves public education campaigns, including on public transit and freeway billboards. In 2017 we are working toward a statewide ban on rodenticides in California.

Download our fact sheet. You can help us spread the word! Check out our free educational materials.

[At this point the RATS website has a short (2 min.) Claymation video, “Raptor Blues”: https://youtu.be/enHV9E-VqM8].

Background Anticoagulant and other rat poison products designed to kill rodents are also killing birds of prey, pet dogs and cats, and many species of wildlife, including several endangered species. The mate of famous New York City Red-tailed ‘Pale Male’ died after ingesting a poisoned rat. These products are also poisoning children, even when the products are used in accordance with the directions on the packages. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 1999 and 2003, 25,549 children under the age of six had poisoning symptoms after exposure to rodenticides. Seventy-two percent had been exposed to a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, brodifacoum. [Do we know if pindone carries similar risks? – Ed.]

In 2008, the US EPA determined that various second-generation rodenticides posed an “unreasonable risk” to children, pets, and wildlife. The EPA gave the poison companies three years to switch to safer products, but three—Reckitt-Benckiser, Spectrum, and Liphatech—refused to do so and tied up the EPA’s cancellation process in lawsuits for years [this tactic seems to be commonplace among morally bankrupt big corporations –Ed.]. Finally, as of April 1, 2015, second generation anticoagulants are no longer sold over the counter in the US. However, several dangerous first-generation anticoagulants and other types of rat poison remain on the market, allowed by the US EPA. We are highly concerned about the loopholes that allow these products to remain on the shelves as well as by the fact that EPA allows the pest control industry to continue to use the same second- generation anticoagulant poisons it pulled off of consumer shelves. You can read more here about the products currently on the market and allowed by the EPA.

RATS was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2011 after Cooper’s began falling dead on the streets from eating poisoned rats. RATS, with help from our many partners–especially Poison Free Malibu in Southern California–is working with cities and counties throughout the state to encourage them to adopt resolutions discouraging businesses from selling dangerous rodenticides. Read some of the city resolutions here.

Is rat poison our new DDT? Read an excellent summary by Urban Carnivores. And if you are interested in seeing some of the (many) scientific studies that have been done about wildlife and pets and poison go here.

…if the hyperlinks don’t work in the online version of Boobook, go to the RATS website as given on p. 23 for the online version of this article. (Ed.)

Recent Literature

Journals Bird Study 64 2017 Animal Conservation 20 2017 Apparent survival rates of adult Clanga Forecasting disturbance effects on wildlife: Tolerance pomarina estimated by GPS-tracking, colour rings and wing- does not mitigate effects of increased recreation on tags (Ü. Väli & U. Bergmanis), 104–107 [lowered by loss of wildlands (B. Pauli et al.), 251–260 [Golden Eagle]. wing tags]. aluco response to call-broadcasting and Auk 134 2017 implications for survey design (J. Worthington-Hill & G. Sneak peek: Raptors search for prey using stochastic Conway), 205–210 [advise simultaneous playbacks at head turns (M. Ochs et al.), 104–115. separate sites, to avoid double-counting].

Australian Birdlife 6(1) 2017 Unmasked (D. Stowe), 48–51 [photo essay on Masked Owl fledglings on the Sydney urban fringe].

Biological J. Linnean Society 119 2018 Phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of barn owls (Aves: Strigiformes) (M. Aliabadian et al.), 904–918 [three species: Tyto alba (Europe/Middle East/Africa); T. furcata (Americas, taking in pratincola); and T. javanica (India to Australasia, taking in stertens and delicatula) – so we’re back to T. javanica for Australian birds again].

Journal of the Australasian Raptor Association — Volume 35 (1) - August 2017 Page 24

Recent Literature

BirdingASIA 23 2015 Territory occupancy and breeding success of Two records of female Cooper’s Hawks White-eyed Buzzard teesa, a Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus at courting two different males in new species for Greater Sundas and various stages of population recovery (M. neighboring urban territories (E. Deal Wallacea (K. Shagir & M. Iqbal), 124 McGrady et al.), 285–296. et al.), 83–84. –125. Density-dependent effects on reproductive First evidence provided by satellite performance in a recovering population telemetry of nocturnal flight overland Canberra Bird Notes 41 2016 of White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus by an (Pandion haliaetus) (A. Turner’s Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) albicilla (C. Heuck et al.), 297–310. Galarza et al.), 184–186. (T. Munro et al.), 194–196. Turnover and post-bottleneck genetic structure in a recovering population of J. Wildlife Management 41 2017 Corella 41 2017 Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus (S. Improving nest monitoring with A comparison of the diets of the Black- Ponnikas et al.), 311–323. a second spring survey (T. Wilson et shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris and Time and travelling costs during chick- al.), 545–551 [early nestling period]. Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides rearing in relation to habitat quality in in the Canberra region (L. Tsang et Little Owls Athene noctua (J. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 109 al.), 27–31. Staggenborg et al.), 519–531 [higher 2017 costs in homogenous farmland habitats]. Bioacoustic and multi-locus DNA data of Current Zoology 63 2017 Post-fledging survival of Little Owls Athene Ninox owls support high incidence of Factors affecting the spatial distribution noctua in relation to nestling food supply extinction and recolonisation on small, and breeding habitat of an insular (M. Perrig et al.), 532–540 [correlated]. low-lying islands across Wallacea (C. cliff-nesting raptor community (B. Regional and temporal variation in diet and Gwee et al.), 246–258. Rodríguez et al.), early online, doi: provisioning rates suggest weather limits 10.1093/cz/zox005 prey availability for an endangered Notornis 64 2017 raptor (M.-S. Garcia Heras et al.), 567– Causes of mortality for kārearea / New 117 2017 579. Zealand Falcon ( F a l c o The role of avian scavengers in the novaeseelandiae) in the Whakatipu breakdown of carcasses in pastoral J. Animal Ecology 86 2017 district (E. Waite), 21–23. landscapes (R. Peisley et al.), 68– Earlier nesting by generalist predatory bird is Winter mortality of Barn Owl (Tyto alba) in 77 [raptors important]. associated with human responses to Northland, New Zealand (N. Hyde & K. climate change (S. Smith et al.), 98–107 Matthews), 27–30. European J. Wildlife Research 63 2017 [American Kestrel; prey in earlier-sown Unravelling the response of diurnal crops in warmer winters]. Oecologia 183 2017 raptors to land use change in a Reproductive consequences of farmland highly dynamic landscape in J. Avian Biology 48 2017 heterogeneity in Little Owls (Athene northwestern Spain: An approach Bias in ring-recovery studies: Causes of noctua) (V. Michel et al.), 1019–1029. based on satellite Earth observation mortality of Little Owls Athene noctua data (L. Tapia et al.), 40. and implications for population Sunbird 46 2016 assessment (B. Naef-Daenzer et al.), Carrion preference in Australian coastal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 5 266–274. raptors: Effects of urbanisation on 2017 Pair complementarity influences scavenging (V. Thomson et al.), 16– Does seasonal decline in breeding reproductive output in the polymorphic 28. performance differ for an African Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter raptor across an urbanisation melanoleucus (G. Tate et al.), 387–398 Tas. Bird Report 38 2017 gradient? (S. Rose et al.), 47. [Black [mixed-morph pairs do better]. Risks of anticoagulant rodenticides to Sparrowhawk; yes – productivity Weather-mediated decline in prey delivery Tasmanian raptors (N. Mooney), 17– decline greater in urban than non- rates causes food-limitation in a top 25. urban.] avian predator (B. Robinson et al.), 748– 758 [Peregrine]. Victorian Naturalist 134 2017 Individual heterogeneity determines sex Intrinsic factors drive spatial genetic by White-bellied Sea-Eagles differences in mortality in a variation in a highly vagile species, the Haliaeetus leucogaster on birds (M. monogamous bird with reversed Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax, in Mo et al.), 43–47. (F. Colchero et Tasmania (C. Kozakiewicz et al.), E1– al.), 899–907 [Eurasian E10 (early online), doi: 10.1111/ Wilson J. Ornithology 129 2017 Sparrowhawk]. jav.01326 First record of nestling relocation by adult (Falco rusticolus) following Ibis 159 2017 J. Ornithology 158 2017 nest collapse (B. Robinson et al.), 216 Stability in prey abundance may buffer Parental investment in two large raptors –221. Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter breeding in a high prey density area (E. melanoleucus from health impacts Bassi et al.), 549–559. [Golden Eagle]. Zootaxa 4216 2017 of urbanization (J. Suri et al.), 38– Phylogeny and new of the 54. J. Raptor Research 51 2017 booted eagles (: Experimental evidence that a large American Kestrels occupying nest boxes in ) (H. Lerner et al.), 301–320. raptor can detect and replace Michigan cherry orchards show high heavily damaged flight feathers long reproductive rates and tolerance of Book before their scheduled moult dates monitoring (M. Shave & C. Lindell), 50– Debus, S. (2017). Australasian Eagles (D. Ellis et al.), 217–220. 60. [Boxes also increase their and Eagle-like Birds. CSIRO Publishing, population and predation on pests.] Melbourne.