Once a rare sighting, sea-eagles are on the rise
EARLIER this month I took a day off to do a bit of birdwatching at the Western Treatment Plant.
The rough track south of the boat-ramp that leads to Kirk Point was the starting place, and at the point itself, perched on a tall pole was a large, mottled brown raptor.
At first we imagined it to be a kite, either a whistling or black, but my companion Shona pointed out the large beak and heavy talons — not a kite, but a juvenile white-bellied sea-eagle.
Later we saw it drifting on broad, upswept wings well out over the bay.
Juveniles are truly “ugly ducklings” that take about four years to be transformed from the scruffy brown bird to one of beauty — pure white with grey wings and back.
White-bellied sea-eagles have an interesting history in the Geelong area.
Writing back in 1914, orni- thologist Charles Belcher commented: “In 25 years I have never met an example here ... Mr Mulder has a specimen in his collection which was shot at Cape Otway, and he tells me that he once followed a Seaeagle for miles along the Lower Barwon.”
Then in 1958 field naturalist Jack Wheeler saw one at Lake Connewarre, possibly the first local sighting in half a century.
Since then, the number of reports of sea-eagles has gradually increased, and in 2003 the birds were found nesting here.
The bird we saw at Kirk Point was apparently one from a nest somewhere in that area.
Sea-eagles feed largely on fish that they catch by swooping down and grasping from near the surface.
In areas where they are well established, they will accept fish thrown out by anglers, dropping down to take it as it hits the water.
Sea-eagles are not confined to the ocean coastline or bays, but will be found on large inland lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
They have been seen at Wurdi Boluc, Lake Modewarre, Lake Purrumbete and other inland water-bodies.
One final note Belcher wrote: “I have always entertained the notion that Eagle Rock, at Aireys Inlet (Eagle’s Nest Rest one sees it on some of the old charts), is so called from having once been the nesting place of this eagle ... But I have been able to get no particulars of the reason for the original giving of the name.”
I’d welcome any suggestions even after such a long time, about the name of the place. Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott@gmail.com