Three Macedon Ranges wildlife rescuers helped recover an injured wedge-tailed eagle in Lancefield last week.
A resident saw the eagle on the ground and made a call to Wildlife Victoria for help, recognising something was wrong.
The eagle was hiding underneath a row of large pine trees and the property owner said it had been around for the last week feeding on a nearby carcass.
“Wedge-tailed eagles are opportunistic carrion feeders as well as skilled hunters and will feed on roadkill and other dead animals. They are the largest bird of prey in Australia and their wingspan can be as wide as 2.3 metres,” rescuer Debbie Gwyther-Jones explained.
“They have powerful talons used for killing and dismembering prey that can potentially cause serious injury if not handled very carefully.”
Debbie, with fellow rescuers Glenn Cottier and Lauren Torzillo, hatched a plan to safely catch the large raptor.
Together they were able to gently contain the bird and transported it directly to Healesville Sanctuary for specialist care and treatment.
“It was an amazing experience for the rescuers and hopefully the wedgie will make a full recovery,” Debbie said.
“Wedge-tailed eagle rescues are a rare occurrence and the opportunity to help such a majestic bird will be a lasting memory.”
