DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
| Posted: |
06/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
A. F. C. Lashmar, T. E. Dennis |
A survey conducted between 1988 and 1994 located 55 occupied territories of White-bellied
Sea-Eagle in South Australia. Survey methods included: information from the literature; systematic
survey in the Great Australian Bight region, southern Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island; opportunistic
survey elsewhere; and contact with other people.
Eighteen (33%) of these territories were found on the mainland, including three from inland river
systems on Coopers Creek and the Murray River. The majority of the breeding population (67%) was
found on offshore islands, including Kangaroo Island where 17 occupied territories are known. The
remaining 20 occupied territories were found throughout the island groups off the far west coast, Eyre
Peninsula, and through Investigator Strait.
Extensive areas of typical coastal habitat in the south-east region of the State, on Yorke Peninsula
and around Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent were found to be vacant despite historical records of
White-bellied Sea-Eagles breeding in those regions. This suggests that the distribution of the breeding
population and the abundance of this species has declined in South Australia.
Many of the occupied territories on the mainland and on Kangaroo Island are regarded as vulnerable
to further decline unless residential and tourism development and particularly coastal recreation, are
carefully managed.
The South Australian population was found to be physically isolated with the nearest occupied
territories 860 km to the west, and 700 km to the east.
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