« on: March 31, 2009, 07:43:14 AM »
From Noel and Debbie at Wingspan:
"Immediate Press Release!!!
News of an extremely large bird of prey seen in the central Bay of Plenty district has bird enthusiasts excited.
The sighting has yet to be confirmed by the Ornithological Society, however it is thought to be an Australian wedge tail eagle, and was today photographed by a passing motorist in the vicinity of Paradise Valley in Rotorua.
Reports of the size of the bird have not been exaggerated. "It is huge, with outstretched wings around 2 metres and probably weighing around 4 kilograms - this is a bird to be reckoned with" said Debbie Stewart from a neighbouring property, suggesting "it was the first time an eagle had been seen in New Zealand for more than 400 years".
When asked for comment, Noel Hyde, Chairman of Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, confirmed the bird as an adult wedge tailed eagle - a vagrant from Australia - it has crossed the Tasman!!" he said.
Andrew Thomas, another raptor specialist (and ornithologist from Massey University in Palmerston North) said he "didn't care what species it was, [he was] just thrilled to witness such a rare raptor visitor to New Zealand".
A local farmer, who only wanted to be identified as 'Pete', responded that after recent unexplained stock losses, " he would be keeping a careful watch for eagles if any further sheep went missing"." A.F.D. 2009
Logged
"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."
Frank Lloyd Wright (1869 - 1959)
