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BIRDERS' EXCHANGE RECIPIENTS

Harpy Eagle Project

by Lina DiGregorio

He introduces himself as "Benjamim, biologist and climber." Benjamim da Luz has been climbing the massive emergent trees of the Amazon since 1999. The emergents' towering height and commanding views make them favorite nesting and perching locations for Harpy Eagles. The eagles are what keep Benjamim the biologist climbing.

Photo (right): Iván Soler and Benjamim da Luz climbing a 100' high tree to check the activity of a Harpy Eagle nest, and to measure the size of the nest, forks and branches of the tree.

Benjamim is working on a Master's Degree at the National Institute of Amazon Research. His research investigates Harpy Eagle diet and nesting site patterns and will try to address questions such as: how does diet change in different forest types? Is there difference in quality of prey? Or in the total biomass predated? What are the most important prey species? Ultimately, Benjamim intends to use the data to help in making science-based conservation decisions for the Harpy Eagle.

The Harpy Eagle Conservation Program works to understand more about the Harpy Eagle and thereby assist in the bird's conservation. Currently, the program has three young eagles fitted with telemetry transmitters, more than 25 nests in a database, and five nests under monitoring. The research staff for the Program study different aspects of Harpy Eagle biology. Benjamim da Luz works on Harpy Eagle diet and nesting patterns. Iván Soler investigates new nest sites and makes contacts with the local riverine communities. Julio do Vale is responsible for monitoring active nests. Tania M. Sanaiotti, from the National Institute of Amazon Research, serves as an advisor and finds support for the program. 

Photo (left): Tania M. Sanaiotti of the Harpy Eagle Program using the scope and tripod donated by Birders' Exchange.

The staff works in the challenging conditions of the Amazon forest where temperatures can exceed 104 F and annual rainfall is 80-100 inches. Much of the forest and Harpy Eagle habitat floods each year. Research sites can be accessible by boat or canoe only. Vegetation grows so quickly that it masks trail markers and nest sites.

The wilting heat and heavy rain have not dampened the spirits of the Harpy Eagle Conservation Program team. They continue to traverse the forest, climb the trees, and search for eagles.

Birders' Exchange sent the Harpy Eagle Conservation Program a tripod and Bushnell Spacemaster Scope to assist in nest observations. The magnification is important because the observation platforms often are set more than 50 meters away from the nest. In addition, the team uses the scope to find Harpy Eagles when exploring the forest or when visiting old nest sites.

Birders' Exchange would like to fulfill the remainder of Benjamim's request for research equipment and hopes that you will consider making a donation of any of the following items:

• 400mm Nikon camera lens will be used to take photographs of nests, nestlings, behavior, or to record adult individuals at a distance.

• Clinometer, to calculate the tree height of nest trees and other trees in the forest that surround the nest tree.

• CD burner (external) to keep our maps, satellite images, and data. Currently, the whole team shares the same computer and the hard drive becomes full quickly.

• Two-way radios would enable the climbing biologists to communicate with people on the ground. The team's one-watt radios don't work well from a distance, especially in the dense vegetation of the Amazonian forest.

• Weatherproof journals record and keep data safely in the wet tropical forest environment.

• Vinyl flagging, in pink or strong blue, is used to mark the path through the forest and keep the researchers from becoming lost in thick vegetation.

If you would like to contribute to Birders' Exchange, please contact:

Betty Petersen
Birders' Exchange Program Director
bpetersen@aba.org

Harpy Eagle Research, Brazil

Dr. Tania Sanaiotti, researcher and Birders' Exchange recipient reports the following from her Harpy Eagle research site in Brazil: Since July we have been in the field monitoring Harpy Eagle nests. By now, we have three young individuals that are being monitored with transmitters implanted by backpack system. Thank you very much to Birders' Exchange for your help on our Amazonian Program for Conservation of this powerful but threatened species.

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