- TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - Hier 01:38

The eagles have landed, in Tasmania

Each year, Sustainable Timber Tasmania invests significant time and resources to protect Wedge-tailed Eagles and White-bellied Sea Eagles. Last week, its operational teams carried out final aerial surveys in the south, north east, and north west of the state for eagle nests ahead of the main breeding season. Source: Timberbiz As part of the extensive program, operational teams conduct surveys to check the condition of existing nests identified during previous programs, search for new nests and record their locations. This year, across public production forests and adjacent land, STT has: Surveyed approximately 37,000 hectares Revisited 144 known nests Discovered 16 new nests. “This valuable information helps us protect nest sites, preserve habitat, and inform our operational planning. By monitoring the nests, we can mitigate potential disturbances, maximising the best outcomes for the breeding season,” Suzette Weeding, General Manager, Conservation and Land Management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, said. Management of eagle species under the Tasmanian forest practices system focuses on minimising the risk of disturbance to breeding birds and associated nest sites. Wedge-tailed Eagles and White-bellied Sea-Eagles rely on mature eucalypt forests to breed. Areas sheltered from the strongest winds are almost always chosen as nesting sites by eagles. From July, Sustainable Timber Tasmania will implement management restrictions developed using scientific research methods, to adapt harvesting activities where applicable. This includes implementing a designated 10-hectare reserve around trees with eagle nests on Permanent Timber Protected Zone (PTPZ) land. Reserves around trees are required to minimise disturbance on nest sites and maintain their viability as breeding locations for eagles into the future.