Report on the 2020 nesting of the White-bellied Sea-Eagles
in the Newington Nature Reserve Forest
at Sydney Olympic Park

 

Birdlife Australia - Southern NSW
Judy Harrington, Geoff Hutchinson, Jon Irvine.
We acknowledge the essential assistance from the current EagleCAM team - Judy Harrington, Geoff Hutchinson, Bob Oomen and Chris Bruce, for camera installation and maintenance and Shirley McGregor for managing the daily operations.
Special thanks to Dasha, Marsha and Pat, for monitoring nesting observations and Dasha & Helen for camera operations.
Additionally, we also have a wonderful team of volunteers including Facebook admins, chat moderators, ground observers and more (too many to mention here).
Above all, thank you to our Supporters, for funding this project.

Summary :

The breeding pair of eagles renovated the nest used the previous year. The first egg SE-25 was laid on 18th June 2020, followed by the second, SE-26 on 21st June 2020. The eggs were laid 82 hours apart. Delayed incubation reduced the gap to 40 hours at hatch.
Both eagles fed the nestlings, though the male brought most of the prey. There was no significant sibling rivalry. The second hatched SE-26 was seen to have an injury or deformity of its right leg; intervention was not permitted.
The first hatched SE-25 branched on 10th October 2020 and fledged the following day at 75 days from hatch. It left the nest area after a week. There was a reported sighting of SE-25 on 5th November 2020 at Putney Point. No further sightings recorded.
SE-26 fledged on 30th October 2020 at 92 days from hatch and remained in the nest area for some weeks. It was found unable to fly from a high balcony and was rescued. After assessment and care it was euthanised as it was determined to be unable to survive in the wild and would be in pain.
Although two nestlings fledged, SE-26 was euthanised and the survival of SE-25 is not confirmed.

For the complete report see

Sea-EagleCAM Study 2020