What wedgies like
Wedge-tailed eagles (kurina) (Aquila audax) are Australia's largest birds of prey.
While they have been sighted nesting in a wide range of habitats, they do have a preference for wooded areas and open forests. They also prefer big, old trees that are at least 20 metres tall with stumpy limbs, and for some dead trees to be present. And, they like tree canopies that aren’t full, so they can easily take off and land.
Penny Hill has all this and more.
Fit for a king
Given wedge-tailed eagles often use the same nest for years, they put a fair bit of effort into creating their abodes.
Nests are built with sticks, lined with leaves, and can measure 2 metres across and 3 metres deep, weighing more than 400kg.
The nests are so large that smaller birds can nest in the underside, providing protection from predators.
A keystone species
Wedge-tailed eagles are a keystone species, meaning they play a critical role in maintaining the health of their ecosystem.
By scavenging for already-dead carcasses and roadkill, they help prevent disease outbreaks. They are nature’s clean-up and sanitation crew. When they do hunt live prey, it tends to be pest animals and over-abundant species, which ensures balance in the ecosystem.
Thermal winds
Penny Hill is surrounded by undulating mountains and valleys.
You might remember from science class that hot air expands, gets lighter and rises — while cool air does the opposite. This circulation of warm air moving upward and cool air moving downward creates a cycle that’s influenced by and mimics the landscape below. Valley walls, for example, force air to move more vertically, giving it upward momentum, helping to create thermal winds.
It’s here that wedge-tailed eagles can most often be spotted, soaring for hours on these warm thermal winds.
Explore by ecosystem
The Quoin boasts numerous ecosystems — from grassy woodland to dolerite escarpment — each unique in appearance, species makeup and functional role in the broader web of life.
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