Report on the 2017 nesting of the White-bellied Sea-Eagles

In the 2017 breeding season, the resident pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles again nested in the Nature Reserve forest, though no young survived. The study again revealed delayed incubation between the laying of the two eggs.

There has been a Sea-Eagle nest in the Newington Nature Reserve at Sydney Olympic Park by the Parramatta River for many years, with a succession of eagle pairs renovating the nest in the breeding season. There are few early records of successful breeding however and several eagles were found dead. Following the death of a pair of breeding eagles in 2004, necropsy and chemical analysis of tissues was undertaken in order to determine the cause of death. Further study was recommended. Their success or failure appears to be closely linked with environmental conditions, particularly the accumulated Persistent Organic Pesticides in Homebush Bay and the Parramatta River.
As in previous years since 2009, the breeding relationships, behaviour and diet of the White-bellied Sea-Eagles were to be studied using video CCTV cameras and by limited physical observation during daylight hours, from the time of nest renovation to fledging and beyond where possible. In early 2017 a new Research Proposal was submitted and all approvals gained.
The White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster (Gmelin 1788) is currently listed as a Vulnerable Species in NSW . (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Gazetted date: 16 Dec 2016 Profile last updated: 01 Dec 2017).

During April and May nest renovation began in Nest 3 in an Ironbark, the nest used in 2015 and 2016. Renovations continued in May and June, with the eagles bringing sticks to build up the rails, or edges of the nest, and fresh leaves to line it. As previously observed, both eagles assisted in the construction stage.

        Female watching the first egg hatch

The first egg SE-19 was laid 13 June 2017, 05:40pm.
The second egg SE-20 was laid 17 June 2017, 03:00am. About 81 hours apart.

For the complete report see

Sea-EagleCAM Study 2017