Popular as national symbols throughout history, eagles are indeed majestic birds, soaring effortlessly on rising currents of warm air. They are also, of course, strong and rapacious carnivores, preying on a range of creatures and scavenging carcasses (perhaps another reason why various States identify with them). Of 34 eagle species in the world, we have but three in Australia: the white-breasted sea-eagle, living near the coast or large bodies of water; the little eagle, which has a wide distribution but is not common; and finally, the largest of the three and the king of the inland sky, the magnificent wedge-tailed eagle.