'I got angrier and angrier': Bird-lovers outraged as remote-control plane is deliberately flown at rare sea eagles
- A bird-lover has captured sea eagles being attacked by a remote-control plane
- Wildlife photographer Anthony Robertson snapped the images last week
- The White Belly Sea Eagle is classed as a vulnerable species
A bird-lover has voiced his outrage after he spotted a remote-control plane being used to purposefully swoop at sea eagles.
Wildlife photographer Anthony Robertson was taking pictures of birds at Don in northern Tasmania last week when he noticed the sea eagles being harassed.
Mr Robertson told Daily Mail Australia he saw a 'beautiful young White Belly Sea Eagle leaving a Macrocarpa Pine tree just before being chased by the remote-control plane.'
Wildlife photographer Anthony Robertson voiced his outrage after spotting two White Bellied Sea eagles being intentionally swooped at by a remote-control plane (pictured)
Mr Robertson photographed the attack (pictured) at Don, in Northern Tasmania, last week
'I observed this eagle fly out over the river, its mate flew up to fly around with it and it was far enough away that we initially thought there were three sea eagles,' he said.
Mr Robertson then looked through his superzoom camera lens and saw the birds were being attacked by a blue and white toy aircraft.
Using his 600mm lens, Mr Robertson captured several images of the model airplane chasing and diving at the eagles.
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Mr Robertson said: 'The eagles then fled to the cover of some gum trees by the riverside.'
The wildlife enthusiast said he was outraged at the attack on birds which are classed as a 'vulnerable' species in Tasmania.
'I couldn't believe what I had witnessed,' Mr Robertson said.
'As I drove home I started to get angrier and angrier.'
'I hope it is just young person that regrets what they have done but in this society, who can tell,' he said.
Mr Robertson said he contacted the Department of Primary Industries Parks, Water and Environment to report the incident.
The Department’s Manager of Policy, Advice and Regulatory Services, Andrew Crane, said: 'Eagles are territorial and will defend their territory from threats but they can also be easily spooked by model aircraft as well.'
'There is plenty of evidence to show that eagle species will interact with drones or model planes and are likely to be injured, often fatally,' Mr Crane said.
He noted the Department’s Investigation and Enforcement Section were undertaking inquiries.
Mr Robertson's pictures were also shared around social media by other concerned bird-lovers.
One Facebook user wrote: 'This person needs to be stopped.'
Another commenter asked: 'Seriously what is wrong with some people?'
Mr Robertson said he was angered by the attack on the 'vulnerable' species
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