Harpy Eagle – 1000 birds to see before you die. Bird of the day 003

Harpy Eagle. Harpia harpyja.

Harpy Eagle. Puerto Maldonado. Photo: Walter Mansilla

This series continues. Today, we concentrate our attention on a bird in South America. Here  is the Harpy Eagle is the most powerful of Eagles (together with Philippine Eagle). Its talons are the size of a grown man’s hand. Check out the power in this video when a Harpy Eagle catches a Sloth.

Where to see Harpy Eagle.

Bridge to Harpy nest near Puerto Maldonado

Harpy Eagle occurs from Central America to Brazil and Bolivia. In recent years there have been staked out nests in Venezuela, Belize, Panama, Guyana, Peru and Brazil. As I write this there is an active nest in SE Peru that can be visited near Puerto Maldonado, which is the major airport to reach Tambopata.  It is a very user friendly set up, with a steel tower with a platform across from the nest tree.  A trail has been put in and even a bridge has been constructed to make it more accessible. It should be pointed out that the nest is not in a pristine area. There are lots of agriculture going on nearby. Of the money collected from the visiting birders, half  is donated to the local community and the other half is set off for research by Antonio Fernandini. Antonio has another nest in a more pristine area that is being monitored simultaneously. It is unlikely that the locals would have let the Harpy Eagle nest be if they were not receiving money from the visitors.

Harpy Eagle nests can be productive for visiting birders allowing for seeing adults or almost fully grown juveniles for as long as 2 years. Therefore, this Harpy Eagle nest will be a resource during 2009 and all of 2010.

If you want to visit the nest with Kolibri Expeditions, please check our webpage for tours to SE Peru that end in Puerto Maldonado.  There is a surcharge of 150 US$ to visit the Harpy that is paid at the site. It can be visited in the morning before the flight.