Philippine Eagle
PHILIPPINE EAGLE
Pithecophaga jefferyi
Accipitridae Family
Bird #94 - January 2009
L 990mm(39") Wingspan 1170mm (74")
The Philippine Eagle is our National Bird. It is considered to be the largest eagle in terms of length. It is one of the rarest birds in the Philippines with an estimated population of between 180-500 left in the wild. It is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. In Mt. Kitanglad and in Mt. Apo where we have encountered the eagle the forest is rapidly dwindling due to logging and conversion of the forest into farmland.
We cannot stress enough the need to protect the remaining habitat of the eagle. It needs forest to survive.
We have seen the eagle several times starting 2009 but our latest encounter in Mt. Apo has produced the best photos.
We first saw the eagle in 2009, here is Sylvia's reaction and notes of our first encounter: "OH MY GOODNESS!! THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE!!!
The baby on this nest is about 1-month old. From our vantage point, looking across a canyon to an adjacent mountainside, it looked like a white blob on the side of a steep, tree-covered ravine. But, with the scope, we could see the baby walking, sleeping, waking up, and looking around.
We decided to wait around for the parent to come by. We were scanning the skies, when Tim suddenly said, "The parent isn't flying in because it's on the NEST!" The parent managed to fly in without any of us noticing it!
We have a video of the parent feeding the hatchling some meat!! The pictures of the eagle flying were taken on the 2nd day. Tonji was not planning to bring the scope, but Carlito the guide insisted, and offered to carry it for us! Yey!! I was able to take the Philippine Eagle in flight, through the scope!! Woo hoo!!!
In our Mt. Apo encounter, we observed the presumed female perch on a side branch of the tree where the nest was, hidden in the foliage for some time before she hopped into the nest. She did not bring food and tended to the nest and hatchling for a bit, thermalled in front of the nest, then flew off to a distant tree. She stayed there for a long time, facing away from the nest. Then she flew towards the nest and then disappeared into a tree. While we were watching her flight, the male dropped into the nest unobserved. He brought prey and fed the hatchling. Then the female flew into the nest. The photo sequence shows the male stepping on the hatchling and then flying out of the nest. Sadly the female eagle was killed. Tonji wrote about the incident in e-Bon. This is the link to the article. Trying to Make Sense of a Senseless Killing
Read MorePithecophaga jefferyi
Accipitridae Family
Bird #94 - January 2009
L 990mm(39") Wingspan 1170mm (74")
The Philippine Eagle is our National Bird. It is considered to be the largest eagle in terms of length. It is one of the rarest birds in the Philippines with an estimated population of between 180-500 left in the wild. It is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. In Mt. Kitanglad and in Mt. Apo where we have encountered the eagle the forest is rapidly dwindling due to logging and conversion of the forest into farmland.
We cannot stress enough the need to protect the remaining habitat of the eagle. It needs forest to survive.
We have seen the eagle several times starting 2009 but our latest encounter in Mt. Apo has produced the best photos.
We first saw the eagle in 2009, here is Sylvia's reaction and notes of our first encounter: "OH MY GOODNESS!! THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE!!!
The baby on this nest is about 1-month old. From our vantage point, looking across a canyon to an adjacent mountainside, it looked like a white blob on the side of a steep, tree-covered ravine. But, with the scope, we could see the baby walking, sleeping, waking up, and looking around.
We decided to wait around for the parent to come by. We were scanning the skies, when Tim suddenly said, "The parent isn't flying in because it's on the NEST!" The parent managed to fly in without any of us noticing it!
We have a video of the parent feeding the hatchling some meat!! The pictures of the eagle flying were taken on the 2nd day. Tonji was not planning to bring the scope, but Carlito the guide insisted, and offered to carry it for us! Yey!! I was able to take the Philippine Eagle in flight, through the scope!! Woo hoo!!!
In our Mt. Apo encounter, we observed the presumed female perch on a side branch of the tree where the nest was, hidden in the foliage for some time before she hopped into the nest. She did not bring food and tended to the nest and hatchling for a bit, thermalled in front of the nest, then flew off to a distant tree. She stayed there for a long time, facing away from the nest. Then she flew towards the nest and then disappeared into a tree. While we were watching her flight, the male dropped into the nest unobserved. He brought prey and fed the hatchling. Then the female flew into the nest. The photo sequence shows the male stepping on the hatchling and then flying out of the nest. Sadly the female eagle was killed. Tonji wrote about the incident in e-Bon. This is the link to the article. Trying to Make Sense of a Senseless Killing
PHILIPPINE EAGLE Pithecophaga jefferyi Mt. Apo, Davao, Philippines The female looks angry.
