BIOLOGY OF THE LITTLE EAGLE ON THE NORTHERN TABLELANDS OF NEW-SOUTH-WALES

The diet and breeding biology of the little eagle H. morphnoides were investigated at Armidale, New South Wales in 1980. Data were supplemented by the RAOU Nest Record Scheme. Little eagles took a wide range of vertebrate prey species in the breeding season. Prey items recorded at 3 nests consisted, by number, of about 60% mammal, 25% bird and 15% lizard and these figures agreed closely with the percentage occurrence of these prey types in pellets (.apprx. 55% mammal, 25% bird and 20% lizard). Active nests were in living trees in patches of woodland. The ratio of 2 to single-egg clutches was about 2:1. The incubation period was 36-40 days, and males shared incubation. The nestling period was about 9 wk, and the post-fledging dependence period appeared to last at least 6 wk. The breeding cycle occupied about 4 mo. from nest building to fledging, and for the district, about 5 mo. (Aug.-Jan.). Fledging success was bout 0.5 young/pair per yr, and about 1 in 6 successful nests raised 2 young. Breeding density was at least 1 pair per 1600 ha. Prey taken from each home range in the 6 mo. breeding season was estimated at 120 young lagomorphs (48 kg), 50 birds (3 kg) and 30 lizards (4 kg).