Aerie, the nest of Murray's White-Breasted Sea Eagle.

We emulate the lifestyle of the White-breasted sea eagles of the Murray Darling River basin.

White-breasted sea eagles, particularly in the Murray River region, are opportunistic carnivores that forage over large bodies of water and open terrestrial habitats. They are known to congregate in favorable areas during food shortages, including the Murray River. These birds are territorial, forming permanent pairs that occupy nesting territories, often near water. They nest in large trees and may use the same nest for several years, enlarging it over time.

Foraging and Habitat:

White-bellied sea eagles forage over large expanses of open water, especially in coastal areas, but also over terrestrial habitats like grasslands.
They are known to gather in favorable areas during food shortages, including the Murray River.
Their diet includes fish, turtles, waterbirds, reptiles, mammals, and carrion.
They may harass smaller birds to steal their prey or force them to regurgitate it.

Territoriality and Nesting:

Resident pairs are territorial and occupy nesting territories, often hundreds of hectares in size.
Nesting habitat consists of mature open forest, gallery forest, or woodland, with large trees, especially eucalypts.
Nests are usually high up in trees, sometimes on cliff edges, overlooking bodies of water.
They often reuse the same nest site for multiple years, building it up over time.
Nests are large, deep bowls made of sticks and branches, lined with materials like grass or seaweed.

Breeding and Parental Behaviour:

The breeding season in southern Australia typically runs from May to January, with eggs being laid from June to September.
The female usually lays a clutch of 2 dull, white, oval eggs.
Incubation takes about 6 weeks.
Eaglets are covered in white down when they hatch.
While two eggs are laid, it's uncommon for both chicks to survive to fledging.
Parents may attempt a second brood if the first clutch is lost.
Eaglets usually fledge when they are 70 to 80 days old and remain in the vicinity of their parents for several months.

Social Behaviour:

White-bellied sea eagles may be solitary, in pairs, or in small family groups.
They may be gregarious at food sites or roosts.
Pairs are generally monogamous and remain together until one bird dies.
Immaturity is generally dispersive, with many birds moving long distances from the area they were raised.