MISS NERRIGA

ARCC Inc monitors all birds on a daily basis to ensure movement of the bird appears normal. If we see any abnormal movement patterns that suggests the bird is in distress, we alert both the group that rehabilitated the bird, as well as the appropriate wildlife rescue group local to the bird's position, should intervention be required.

While we share tracking data with the rehabilitation group regularly, so they can follow their bird's progress, we do embargo the public release of this information for 2-4 weeks in order to protect the bird from disturbance during this critical post-release period.

After staying within the forested slopes of the Great Dividing Range throughout her first month, Miss Nerriga moved North-West to the other side of the ACT, to open country west of Yass and Murrumbateman - only about 20km from Reggie's parents' territory!

Over the six months she was tracked, Nerriga covered the south-east area of NSW, travelling north as far as the Southern Highlands, just south of Wollongong, all the way south to the Victorian border; from the Great Dividing Range in the east and west to the Southern Tablelands region. Despite being of dispersal age at the time of release, Nerriga did not show the lengthy dispersal flights that other birds of her age (such as Reggie) performed. 

On October 15th, Nerriga's tracker was noted to have stopped moving. Sadly on the 16th, she was found deceased on a sheep property near a dam, along with a dozen other deceased Wedge-tailed eagles. A full post-mortem examination was performed, including radiographs, toxicity screening and necropsy, but unfortunately results have been inconclusive. One positive finding however, was that at the time of death she was in excellent condition and had clearly be thriving up until that point. The case was reported to the relevant authorities but we are yet to hear any news from the investigation.  

journey