The Above the Eagles Project is a private study by Ned Makim of nesting Wedgetail Eagles not far from Inverell in northern NSW. There are two sites and cameras are carried in and out each time with filming lasting only about 15 minutes every 10 days to a fortnight to minimise disruption. It is run purely for the joy of learning about Wedgetail behaviour in the nest. It is shared here because wild things are always appreciated by those who hunt, who love wild places and wild creatures and those who choose to live life outdoors. For them and for myself, this whole thing is a labour of love...
The first decent footage from this year's breeding. The eagles laid two eggs almost a month earlier than last year (very warm winter) but as usual the strongest eaglet disposed of its weaker sibling. The eaglet is camped on a rabbit and the remains of two more and a wallaroo adorn the nest.
The eaglet has grown dramatically in the past seven days but was lying low on a sunny, warm day close to the remains of a wallaroo delivered by the parents. The eaglets wings are also developing the dark feather tips that indicate the loss of its down. It will take about another seven weeks until the young bird is ready to leave the nest.
A bit more activity from the eaglet today. It has a wander around, a crap over the side, a pick at a roo carcase and a preen... Two carcases in the nest today, a wallaroo and an eastern grey kangaroo.
The eaglet's adult feathers are coming through very obviously now. In this clip it moves from one bit of shade to the other in the nest. First lamb of the season seen in the nest as well.
The eaglet moves closer to independence as it's fledging improves. In this footage the young eagle gets up from a sleep and has a stretch, a preen and calls for its parents. Note the nest has been cleaned of all old bones and meat and refurbished with green leaves and branches.