Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4 (continued)
Action
Decision
Reason for the decision
Eagle telemetry
project
Cease (but a new
project was
initiated in its place
a see below)
This project had numerous false starts and
changes in approach. One of the major problems
was the inability to locate a device capable of
documenting the required data (detailed,
fi ne-scale locations) over long periods (3 years).
There were also potential risks to WTE from
long-term attachment of devices (particularly if
harnesses were involved), and expected
diffi culties in catching and re-catching the target
individuals
The objectives of this survey were also largely
achieved through observational studies
Eagle display period
observations
Cease (a new
targeted approach
to replace this b see
below)
No evidence for a connection between displaying
and collision risk was found. The initial proxy
used for collision risk, swept area fl ights, was
determined to not be suitable. Consultant
statisticians advised that this form of monitoring
(which can be termed “surveillance monitoring”)
was inadequate for providing further insight into
collision risk
Eagle post collision
observations
Cease (a new
targeted approach
to replace this b )
Agreed that these observations were
conceptually fl awed because the precise date of
a collision was not often known, and because
any possible changes in eagle behaviour would
probably be infl uenced by the age of the eagle
that collided and whether it was a resident or
transitory bird
Low level eagle
monitoring
Cease, but continue
to monitor for
collisions
Due to a lack of rigour in the survey design, it had
limited scientifi c value. However, critical events
(i.e. collisions) should still be recorded and acted
on
Rehabilitation of
injured birds
Continue
The commitment would be retained as its intention
was worthy, although to date no eagle was
determined by Veterinary Practitioners to be
suitably fi t for rehabilitation
Eagle breeding
success surveys
Continue for a
defi ned period, but
with modifi cations
to surveys
Data from these surveys was inconclusive and
risked disturbing breeding birds due to their
timing. The experimental design of the original
surveys was fl awed, but it was impossible to
design a survey to achieve the objectives due to
the small number of treatment nests and
inability to control larger landscape effects on
breeding success. Modifi cations were made to
the survey design to reduce the risk of
disturbance from surveys, and surveys
continued for a specifi ed duration (at the request
of DPIPWE)
(continued)
 
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