Harpy eagles back in Belize

Damn the Dam! from Ya'axché Conservation Trust on Vimeo.

This is a video about conservation in Belize.

From Wildlife Extra:

Harpy eagles breeding in Belize for the first time for 50 years

29/01/2011 16:16:28

Harpy Eagles‘ return signals success for Belize’s bird conservation

January 2011. Scientists have discovered a Harpy eagle nest in Belize’s Bladen Nature Reserve, located in the southern Maya Mountains. The eagles were thought previously to be extinct in the country.

“This is an incredibly significant find for bird conservation in the region. It shows that our work in Belize is effective; protecting wildlife and habitat from overhunting and disturbance, while also sending a positive message about the benefits of conservation to the local communities” said Lee McLoughlin, Protected Areas Manager for the Ya’axché Conservation Trust, which manages the Bladen reserve. …

2 metre wingspan

Harpy eagles are have a wingspan of over two metres and are the largest bird of prey in the Americas. They have grey-black feathers and a white underside. They have 13cm long talons and they eat a variety of mammals, including monkeys, sloths and birds like macaws. …

Harpy eagles had been thought to be extinct in Belize and extirpated from Mexico and most of Central America north of Panama. Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja) are designated as ‘Near Threatened’ worldwide by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are considered ‘Critically Endangered’ in Belize.

See also here.

BirdLife’s Mexican Partner Pronatura is promoting an online raffle to raise funds for the conservation of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, an Important Bird Area in Chiapas, Mexico, with the prize of an all-inclusive ten-day trip for two. – see http://www.helpandtravel.org: here.