What wedgies like
Wedge-tailed eagles (kurina) (Aquila audax) are Australia's largest birds of prey.
While they nest in a range of habitats, these birds have a preference for wooded areas and open forests. They select large, old trees at least 20 meters tall with stumpy limbs for stable nests and often choose nearby dead trees for perching. Less dense canopies are preferred, allowing easier takeoff and landing.
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.
Apex predators
Wedge-tailed eagles play a vital role in maintaining the health of their ecosystem as apex predators.
While they do scavenge carrion, including roadkill, their primary role is hunting live prey, often targeting pest species like rabbits and over-abundant animals, helping to keep populations in check. In this way, they contribute to ecosystem balance, acting as both hunters and occasional “clean-up” crew for nature.
Thermal winds
Penny Hill is nestled among rolling mountains and valleys, where the natural flow of air mirrors the contours of the land. You might recall from science class that warm air expands, becomes lighter, and rises, while cool air sinks. This creates a circulation pattern, with warm air moving upward and cool air descending. The valley walls shape this airflow, forcing it upward and generating thermal winds.
It’s in these warm thermals that wedge-tailed eagles are most often seen, effortlessly soaring for hours above the landscape.
Explore by ecosystem
The Quoin is home to a diverse range of ecosystems—from grassy woodlands to dolerite escarpments—each with its own distinct appearance, species composition, and vital role within the broader web of life.
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