What is threatening Tasmanian raptors?
There are about 120 Wedge-tailed Eagle breeding pairs left in Tasmania, less than 110 pairs of Grey Goshawks and less than 200 pairs of White-bellied Sea Eagles. They are fighting against habitat destruction caused by coastal home development, boat accidents and collisions with power lines. Goshawks are also often shot to protect poultry.
The main threats to Tasmania’s raptors include:
- Unnatural mortality
- Persecution (from shooting, poisoning and trapping)
- Collision (with power lines, vehicles, fences, wind turbines)
- Electrocution
- Oiling
- Entanglement
- Pollution
- Habitat loss
- Nest disturbance
- Reduction in the mean age of populations
- Reduction in recruitment
Reducing Tasmania’s road toll
- Please slow down, especially when passing the bush/pasture interface. This allows animals time to react.
- Don’t drive at night if you don’t have to.
- Turn high beams down when you see an animal. This allows animals to escape rather than stand stunned.
Remember: If you see road kill, move it off the road and check for pouch young. Animals feeding on road kill risk becoming victims themselves.