Ruqayyah Snyder
The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is the largest bird of prey in Australia, with an impressive wingspan and powerful talons. These majestic birds are native to Australia and are skilled hunters, feeding on a variety of prey, including rabbits. With sharp talons and keen eyesight, they are able to catch rabbits with ease, making them a common food source. A pair of wedge-tailed eagles can eat an estimated 700 rabbits a year, with rabbits making up between 30 to 70% of their diet. The introduction of European wild rabbits to Australia in the 18th century and their subsequent spread across the country has provided an abundant food source for wedge-tailed eagles, contributing to their survival and impact on the ecosystem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Rabbits, hares, young kangaroos and wallabies, bandicoots, sheep, lambs, lizards, opossums, flying foxes, crows, cockatoos, magpies, waterfowl, cranes, bustards, roadkill, farm animals, foxes, feral cats, dogs, ducks, cats |
| Nest size | 6-16 ft (2–5 m) deep and wide |
| Number of eggs | 1-4, but usually 2 |
| Egg colour | White with colourful splotches ranging from purplish-brown to reddish-brown |
| Incubation period | More than 40 days |
| Nestling appearance | Covered in fluffy white down |
| Fledging period | A few short months |
| Fledgling appearance | Fully feathered |
| Feeding habits | Adult male does most of the hunting when nestlings are very young |
| Hunting range | 600km in a week |
| Habitat | Southern New Guinea and throughout Australia, including Tasmania |
| Lifespan | 30-40 years |
| Wingspan | 2.3m (female), 1.9m (male) |
| Conservation status | Protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act SA1972; illegal to kill, trap or poison |
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What You'll Learn
Wedge-tailed eagles are native to Australia and feed on rabbits
The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is native to Australia, where it is the largest living bird of prey. It is also one of the largest eagles in the world. This bird of prey has long wings, with a wingspan of up to 2.84 m, and a characteristic wedge-shaped tail. The wedge-tailed eagle is a dark shade of brown, with reddish-brown feathers on its head and wings when young, becoming darker as it ages.
Wedge-tailed eagles are opportunistic hunters with a broad prey spectrum, and they have benefited from the introduction of rabbits to Australia. They have a particular affinity for roadkill and are often seen removing rabbits from traps. In almost every part of Australia, wedge-tailed eagles take rabbits in significant numbers, and these rabbits usually constitute the bulk of their diet. In dietary studies, rabbits have accounted for up to 89.2% of their food by number and 86% by biomass.
The wedge-tailed eagle is a skilled hunter and is not picky about its prey, feeding on mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles. They are also known to feed on carrion, or animals that are already dead. In addition to rabbits, some of the items found on a wedge-tailed eagle's menu include hares, young kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, sheep, lizards, opossums, and crows.
Wedge-tailed eagles are top predators, which means they hunt other animals for food but are rarely killed by any other animal themselves, except humans. They play an important role in nature by helping to control prey animal populations and maintain a balance in their ecosystems. These eagles have been observed hunting in pairs, with one eagle distracting and driving the prey towards the other eagle, who lies in wait.
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Rabbits are a pest in Australia, causing damage to crops
Rabbits are a serious pest in Australia, causing millions of dollars' worth of damage to crops. European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were first introduced to Australia in the 18th century, and by the 1920s, they had colonised most of Southern Australia, making them one of the fastest-spreading invasive mammals in the world.
Rabbits have had a devastating impact on the ecology of Australia, and they are suspected of being the most significant factor in species loss in the country. They destroy pasture, crops, and plant communities, impacting agriculture and the environment. They cause soil erosion and the sedimentation of waterways, and their overconsumption of natural pasture vegetation leads to a loss of plant biodiversity and reduced crop yields.
Various methods have been attempted to control the Australian rabbit population, including shooting, destroying their warrens, and building a rabbit-proof fence, but these have had limited success. The introduction of the myxoma virus in the 1950s successfully reduced the rabbit population for a time, but survivors have since adapted and partially recovered their numbers.
Rabbits continue to be a significant problem in Australia, with their high fecundity and subsequent generations causing ongoing damage to crops and the environment. Continuous efforts and innovative solutions are needed for long-term, integrated rabbit control to protect Australia's growing carbon-offset industry and agricultural sectors.
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Rabbits were introduced to Australia in the 18th century
Despite this, rabbits did not become widespread until the mid-19th century, due to Thomas Austin. Austin, a wealthy settler, released 13 European wild rabbits (although some sources state 24) on his estate, Barwon Park, in Victoria, on Christmas Day, 1859. He had asked his nephew in England to send him 12 grey rabbits, but this request could not be fulfilled, so it was topped up with domestic rabbits. He did this so that he could hunt them, stating that "the introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting".
The rabbit population quickly exploded, as Australia had the ideal conditions for rabbits to breed and spread. With mild winters, rabbits were able to breed all year round. In addition, widespread farming meant that areas that might have been woodlands were turned into habitats ideal for rabbits. By 1866, hunters had killed 14,000 rabbits on the Barwon Park estate, but this had little effect on the rabbit population. By 1880, rabbits had crossed the Murray River to New South Wales, and they reached Queensland by 1886. By the late 1940s, the rabbit population had increased to 600 million, and today, at least 150 million wild rabbits live in Australia.
Various methods have been attempted to control the Australian rabbit population. Conventional methods include shooting rabbits, destroying their warrens, and poisoning them, but these have had limited success. From 1901 to 1907, a rabbit-proof fence was built in Western Australia, but this was also unsuccessful, as it was completed after rabbits had already entered the state, and the rabbits were able to get through holes in the fence. The myxoma virus, which causes myxomatosis, was introduced to the rabbit population in the 1950s, and this did successfully reduce their numbers. However, rabbits began developing a resistance to myxomatosis, and their numbers are now rising again.
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Rabbits are eaten in some Australian restaurants
Rabbits were first introduced to Australia by the First Fleet in the 18th century. They were initially brought over as food animals, probably kept in cages. However, they soon became a serious pest, causing millions of dollars' worth of damage to crops and the ecology. Their spread was likely enhanced by interbreeding with other rabbits, creating strong crossbreeds. As a result, various methods have been used to try and control the Australian rabbit population, including shooting, poisoning, ripping (where rabbits are dismembered or buried alive by bulldozers), and the introduction of the myxoma virus in the 1950s, which caused a severe reduction in their numbers.
Despite being a pest, rabbits have also proven to be a useful food source for many Australians throughout history. During the depressions of the 1890s and 1930s, and during wartime, trapping rabbits helped provide food and income for farmers, stockmen, and stationhands. Rabbit meat was also sold to local restaurants and butchers, and the pelts were used in the fur trade and felt-hat industry. While rabbit is not as commonly eaten today, it can still be found in some high-end Australian restaurants, where it is considered a delicacy. Some Australians also breed and butcher rabbits for meat, creating dishes such as spicy rabbit jerky.
However, the release of bioweapons to control the rabbit population, such as the myxoma virus, has made people uneasy about consuming rabbit meat, fearing the transmission of disease to humans. This has likely contributed to the decrease in rabbit consumption in Australia today.
Overall, while rabbits may be a nuisance to farmers and the environment, they have also played a role in providing food and income for Australians throughout history, and they continue to be a delicacy in some restaurants today.
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Rabbits are sometimes kept as pets in Australia
Rabbits can live for up to 12 years, and they need to be desexed/neutered and vaccinated yearly. They should be kept in pairs or groups, as they are social animals. Their enclosures should be as large as possible, with a minimum size of 3m x 1.5m x 1m for two rabbits, and they need daily exercise outside of their enclosure. The enclosure should include a 'burrow' type space with bedding, as burrowing is a normal behaviour for rabbits. It should also be safe from predators and have netting to keep out flies and mosquitoes, which can carry diseases such as myxomatosis and calicivirus.
Rabbits are herbivores and require a high-fibre diet, with unlimited access to grass or grass hay to wear down their constantly growing teeth. They can also be fed fresh green vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and celery, but these should not be their only source of food as they do not provide enough fibre. High-fat and high-sugar foods, such as carrots, other root vegetables, and fruits, should be fed in small amounts as treats.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedge-tailed eagles are the largest birds of prey native to Australia. They are also the official symbol of Australia's Northern Territory.
Wedge-tailed eagles are not picky eaters. They feed on everything from mammals to birds, fish, and reptiles. They are also known to eat carrion, or animals that are already dead, and have a particular affinity for roadkill.
Wedge-tailed eagles are skilled hunters. They use their sharp talons and keen eyesight to catch their prey. They are also known to travel vast distances in search of food.
Wedge-tailed eagles play an important role in the Australian ecosystem by helping to control pest animals such as rabbits and feral cats. They are protected under Australian law and it is illegal to kill, trap, or poison them.
