Rare Harpy Eagle seen in Chiquibul

Even though it is the largest eagle in the world, the Harpy Eagle has remained elusive with the last unconfirmed sighting in Belize reported in 1994. So you can imagine how excited the Belizean Audubon Society got when a group of North Americans saw it in the Chiquibul forest this month and videotaped the encounter. Today the BAS gave News Five a copy of Bill McCullum’s footage taken on February fifth which clearly shows the eagle’s characteristic markings and double crest. Rudy Burgos says it is an historic event and he hopes more bird lovers–himself included–will get to see this large, majestic bird again soon.

Rudy Burgos, Birder

“Some place they have as, like Guyana or some of those places they record as little as ten nesting pairs, in another place a similar number, they are not too common, not too common at all, at all.

From the literature I have read, from the guidebooks, the field guides, it’s a huge eagle, standing over three feet tall with a wingspan of about seven feet, huge crest on the head, really a sight to behold. I hope I see it soon.”

Harpy Eagles are found in the tropical lowlands of Central and South America, from Southeastern Mexico to Northern Argentina. Their decline has been attributed to the destruction of their forest habitats, nesting sites and hunting. The birders who made the tape you just saw were escorted by Rick Taylor of Borderland Tours of Tucson, Arizona and Israel Canto of Cayo Adventure Tours.