Harpy Eagle

Mother and Chick, Photo: Walter Mancilla

General Information:

This is a truly unique experience as the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest of the fifty species of eagles. It can grow to be as large as 36 to 40 inches in length (this mainly is seen in the females of the species). It can reach a weight of up to 20 pounds. The Harpy in flight can reach speeds above 50 mph.

The Harpy is relatively half the length of an average-sized human and it is this size that makes them formidable hunters. As in many birds of prey, females are larger than males. Their diet is composed mainly of small tree-living mammals like opossums, sloths and monkeys.  Madre de Dios biologists have reported baby peccaries as well.

The backside of the Harpy Eagle is covered with slate black feathers, and the underside is covered with white. There is a black band across the chest up to the neck. The head is pale gray, and is crowned with a double crest. This coloration gives it the menacing look to match its reputation.

Harpy Eagles are endangered species whose main threat is the loss of habitat. The nearby Inter -Oceanic road, now in construction between Brazil and Peru is a current threat.  Thus your visit may help us to show the locals and the government that conservation and natural history tourism pays.

HARPY EAGLE AETING TWO TOOTED SLOT NEXT TO AMAZON MANU LODGE
 
 
 Manu - Madre de Dios - Peru
Date: Nov.17, 2009
Report & Photo By: Walter Mancilla
 
The 11th of November was seen a young female Harpy, one of the trails in the Amazon Manu Lodge about 30 minutes walk from the Lodge, a group of birders sow on their visit to the trails, group led by Roger Ahlman and Alex Duran. The bird was seen in afternoon eating an Two tooted Sloth, The bird flew by noting the presence of the group to a nearby branch staying for more than 10 minutes before flying to a bigger tree. The next day 12th November at about 2:30 we returned to the same place me and Alex and we find The Bird in the same place eating the sloth, the female is quite large and almost gray in color and look it young and very healthy female. The bird flew to the branch and stayed for more than 12 minutes in the branch and then flew to a nearby tree called Dipteryx (Dicterix), we left the place as the rain began and the sky darkened. Interestingly, these predators can remain in place for a few days till finish its hunted prey.
Two tooted Sloth KILLED BY Arpy, Photo by: Alex Duran
 
 
 
NEW, HARPY EAGLE NESTING WITH A 3 MONTH OLD CHICK
 
 
Report May 21, 2009
 
 
Oropendola Tours are very exited to have located a new Harpy Eagle nesting site, in a large Dicterix Tree (Chihuahuaco), aproximately one hour from Puerto Maldonado.
 
On closer observations the chick is approximately 3 months old, menaning the nesting site will be active for about another one year more from know yet. This will give a unique & rare opportunity for scientists, filmmakers, photographers, & a limited number of visitors, to view this endangered species in the natural habitad.
 
Oropendola Tours has an intimate knoledge f this species, gathered for many years of working closely with Mr. Antonio Fernandini a well regarded Peruvian Biologist.
 
This second Harpy Eagle nest that we found in the farming area, and  we have developed a unique working relationship involving a local people, & the farmer to help promote the conservation, understanding & importance of protecting big trees like Kapok ad Dicterix.
 
Normally these trees are worth asignificant amount of money to the logger and farmer, for their use the Dicterix tree in charcoal production for BBQ´s, and the Kapok tree for playwood, but by working with the local community to educate them in the importance of the natural habitat, & allowing a controlled amount of fee-paying visitors, the farmer can earn a more sustainable income than the cost of felling a single tree. This will have far reaching benefits for both the farmer & the Harpy Eagle, so is a win-win situation.
 
This particular nest is just over 1.5 m across, and explains why these huge & increasingly rare trees are the favorite for building their nests, as they require such strong  branches to support the large weight.
 
By carefully controling the amount of visitor this will minimize the negative impact to this endangered species & help building a lasting environment  for future nesting birds.
 
We have constructed a unique canopy platform to allow close yet un-obtrusive viewing of the nesting site from a safe distance of about 25 m.
 
We have set up & use high quality climbing equipment, to allow easy & safe access the platform, which is approximately 30 meter high in the canopy, in a similarly sized Kapock tree next to the nesting tree.
 
If you would like more information, pictures or to arrenge a visit, please contact us.
This report was written on May 18, 2009 and the picture was taking at around three PM.
 
Text writed by Andy Dare and Walter Mancilla
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photo: Walter Mancilla
Date: May 18, 2009, time 3 pm.
 

Mother Harpy Eagle with 3 months old Chick approximate, nesting on Dicterix tree

Photo: Walter Mancilla Huaman

Mother taking a fresh branch to the nest

Photo: Walter Mancilla Huamán

Motorcycle for 45 minutes to the Harpy Eagle Nest..

 

Forest Destrution -Puerto Maldonado

Date: February 20, 2009

Report: Walter Mancilla

Chick of 6 month, Photo: Walter Mancilla

The Biology, Antonio Fernandini, was worry because in only 2 years most of the big trees disappear, by the logging companies and the local people, this big trees are very important for the Harpy Eagle and the larges hawk. Because they build their nest in this type of trees.

Trees like Dicterix and Kapok, etc.

Jaguar with a Baby and Harpy Eagle

Date: Novemver 26 to Dicember 06, 2008

Report: Walter Mancilla and Tomoko Suzuki

Photo: Tomoko Suzuki & Walter Mancilla

In this trip we were very lucky to see big predators like Jaguar and harpy Eagle, nest to Paniagua in the Manu River we sow a female large jaguar with is baby jaguar, the female had a wound in its throat, and she was lying on the cedar tree.

Traveling from Yomibato Community to Tayakome Community, by conoe in the Quebrada fierro river. We sow a mail Harpy Eagle, carring its prey of Red Howler Monkey near to as, and landed in a big tree and start eating.

Date: April 12 to april 20, 2006

Nido en un arbol de Chihuahuaco, Foto: Walter Mancilla

I was in manu area from April 03 to April 20 of 2006, working with the metal tower close to the Harpy Eagle nest, and we build a 30 meters hight tower and the distance from the tower to the nest is 25 meters oway the same nest level, the Eagles have one Chick in the nest, I sow the parent bringing a Duski Titi monkey to feed the Chick and they where active, the adults Eagles where easy to see close to the nest specialy the mother I got same pictures and you can see it.

The nest is in the Dicterix Tree, locally call Chihuhuaco this tree is one of the stronger tree in the Amazon area.