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BREEDING DIET OF THE WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE Aquila audax IN SOUTHERN VICTORIA


The breeding diet of the Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax was investigated in the Bacchus Marsh district of southern Victoria in 1999–2000, by collection and analysis of prey remains and pellets from six territories (including five active nests, all of which fledged young). The eagles’ diet (n = 111 prey items) consisted of 95.5 per cent mammals (89.2% European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 4.5 per cent birds by number, and 99 per cent mammals (86% Rabbits, 12% Brown Hares Lepus capensis) and 1 per cent birds by biomass. Although the contribution of rabbit may have been overestimated, it was still of overriding importance. No reptiles, sheep or lambs were recorded.

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