We locked eyes across the gap in the hot, humid canopy of the rainforest. Even at a distance, I could feel the power in this mighty bird’s eyes. I have waited many years for this moment; finally, it has come to fruition…
Our team arrived by Peque-Peque (a small, surprisingly sturdy fishing boat) at midday on the dot into a small winding valley cut into the banks of clay by a tributary of the Alto Madre de Dios River in Peru. We boarded the soft sandy beach, walking approximately 50m upstream before having to take a sharp left turn into a slow, muddy ascent into the hot, humid rainforest.
Army ants swarmed the trail in droves, and Juan Carlos (our guide and Diamante village elder) and I shared a laugh due to him having to keep slapping his feet and ankles due to only being in sandals. Ten minutes further and we arrived with Antonio (another village elder) exclaiming “mira!” (look!) as he first pointed out the huge goblet-like nest out in the thick jungle canopy. Nestled expertly between the thick, ashen grey-white trunks of the Brazil nut tree. A testament to this large, cumbersome-looking bird’s dexterity.
On first appearances, all we could see were some stray brilliant white head feathers poking out above the seemingly cataclysmic sticks and branches of the nest, on closer look you could see how expertly they had been weaved and placed to hold fort in the canopy. After some patience and a little waiting, the young scruffy, awkward adolescent Harpy Eagle made a full appearance, spreading their wings in all their glory.
Already only a few months old, it was already an impressive size. Clearly taking all its parents’ attention to be fed and nurtured. Harpy eagles will usually have a clutch of 2 eggs however once one hatches, they will neglect/break the other to put all their focus into raising the one bird; a result of the high energy requirements for growth whilst still enabling them to provide for themselves, with the incubation period lasting for around 56 days.
Catching us by surprise, the adult male swooped and landed majestically into the nest in spectacular fashion. Unfortunately, without no meal for the chick this time. After acknowledging his child, he promptly hopped out of the nest, perching on the trunk of the mighty Brazil nut tree. Sitting proudly whilst surveying his kingdom.
An incredible bird under persecution simply for its fearsome yet enchanting appearance, there are even legends in some parts of South America of harpy eagles (Harpia Harpyja) carrying off children to be devoured. No wonder this has led to local people killing these magnificent creatures. Apart from the aforementioned, there are a variety of additional reasons for these birds’ premature endings.
These include people shooting the birds purely out of curiosity, simply because they wish to see the birds up close, usually followed by feelings of remorse in most cases. Followed by the Eagles being perceived as a threat to livestock, even though it is extremely rare for them to take anything, similar to the persecution of birds of prey in the UK.
Other reasons can include a hunger for bush meat or harvesting parts of their body, such as their huge talons, considered a symbol of power in some parts, even allegedly being used in baptism ceremonies for children. Their feathers are harvested for clothing, jewellery and for making arrows. Add on those who wish to keep them in captivity illegally, and they have a whole host of problems to deal with, on top of surviving in one of the most unforgiving environments in the world.
As elusive as they can be due to their habit of rarely soaring, preferring to fly from tree to tree, navigating the upper canopy. Their habit of hunting by spending long periods perched in larger trees waiting to strike is their downfall, giving any potential human threats plenty of time to react. There have been cases where the birds have spent over 24 hours in a single tree, giving an opportunity for anyone who has spotted them a chance to return later on with their tools of devastation.
Naturally, they have a preference for the larger trees in the rainforest, which can support their requirements for nesting sites. Trees such as the Brazil nut, Kapok or Shihuahuaco. With the latter forming an almost co-evolutionary relationship due to being able to provide the ideal site for their needs. Kapok trees can also have a special relationship with this bird, it is considered to be bad luck to cut down a Kapok tree in parts of South America, potentially having a positive effect in providing further protection, helping to conserve these wonderful birds.
Their nests are so large that they can be as wide as 4-5ft in diameter and up to 3-4ft deep. Evidently, this is the very first thing we noticed upon arrival at the site. Our local guide, Antonio, informed us that construction in the Brazil nut tree began in March. The pair were taking branches from the adjacent Shihuahuaco tree. Why they chose the Brazil nut over the Shihuahuaco, I am not sure. However, I have a few guesses and observations…
One reason is that the initial formation of the trunk was very wide and allowed a great initial starting “platform”. Secondly, the nest seemed to be in more of a “sun trap”, which would allow for it to dry out faster after torrential rain and storms (more on that later). Protecting the chick from illness and reducing the need for as much maintenance by preventing mouldy wood and potential fungi. Third, being so close to another mighty tree provides them with a source of strong, durable nesting material without expending energy in the construction and maintenance processes. Harpy eagles can weigh between 4-9kg, a frame that requires a lot of energy intake as it is, without having to provide for a growing chick.
Another observation was that clear flight paths were available on both sides into the nest, therefore, ease of access was most likely another deciding factor, combined with providing an excellent vantage point. There are probably more reasons at play than we can fathom; however, from these observations, it shows that these eagles are no “bird brains” and have a high intelligence when it comes to choosing a base to navigate family survival in the jungle.
