Philippine Eagle
\nThe
Philippine Eagle (
Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the most powerful
birds in the world. This
bird of prey belongs to the family
Accipitridae.
It is sometimes called the
Monkey-eating Eagle, but this name is also applied to the African Crowned Hawk-eagle and the South American
Harpy Eagle.
Originally the Philippine Eagle inhabited
rainforests of four
Philippine islands. Now it is restricted to the islands of
Luzon and
Mindanao, but it is nearly extinct on the former one.
This eagle's head is adorned with long brown feathers that give it the appearance of a lion's mane. The upperside of the Philippine Eagle is brown, the underside white. This bird is 100 cm in length, up to 6 kg in weight, and has a wingspan of 220 cm.
Philippine Eagles live hidden in the forest. They never leave this habitat and do not fly above the tree-tops. For this reason the eagle was not discovered before
1896, and the first nest was found in
1963. They feed mainly on large
mammals, e.g. colugos,
civets and
monkeys. Sometimes they also prey on large
birds like hornbills or
crows.
Like most other eagles the Philippine Eagle is monogamous. The couple remains together for a lifetime. The nest is built in a tree, about 30 m above the ground. The female lays one egg. The parents will care for the egg and the young for twenty months, so they may breed only every second year.
Charles Lindbergh, best known for crossing the Atlantic in
1927, was fascinated by this eagle. As a representative of the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) he travelled to the Philippines several times between
1969 and
1972, where he helped persuade the government to protect the eagle.
A plan was discussed to make the Philippine Eagle the heraldic animal of the Philippines; this was not translated into action, but the discussion increased awareness of the bird.
The protection plan includes the conservation of the islands' rain forests, the foundation of new
national parks, and informing the local population. In 2002 there were 200 pairs of Philippine Eagles living on Mindanao, while they are almost extinct on Luzon. Political tensions on Mindanao hinder the ongoing protection of this eagle.
