Parental time-budgets and breeding behaviour of the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides in northern New South Wales
| Posted: |
29/03/2021 |
| Author(s): |
S. J. S. Debus |
The breeding behaviour and parental time-budgets of a pair of Little Eagles Hieraaetus morphnoides were studied
throughout 115 hours of observation from nest-building to fl edging at Armidale, on the Northern Tablelands of New
South Wales, in spring–summer 2009. Supplementary observations were conducted on three other nearby pairs, and
the breeding productivity of nine local pairs was monitored. Incubation lasted approximately 38 days (one nest), and one
male eaglet fl edged at 54 days. Fledgling productivity was 0.56 young per occupied territory in 2009, and 0.63 young per
pair per year for 24 pair-years during 2006–2009. Sex-roles, parental time-budgets and nestling growth are described
and quantifi ed. Males contributed substantially to nest-building, but little to incubation. In the nestling period for one pair
there was a sharp division of labour, with the male supplying all food to the female and young, and the female performing
all nest-based parental care. Prey items at the nest (n = 24) consisted of immature Rabbit Orcytolagus cuniculus (79%
by number, ~95% biomass), parrots (13%, ~4%) and ?lizard (4%, ~1%). Adult eagle turnover and mortality appear to
have increased, and estimated life expectancy to have decreased, in New England since the 1980s.
>> Download Abstract |
File Size: 109KB
>> Download Complete PDF | File Size: 140KB
