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THE BELIZE HARPY EAGLE RESTORATION PROGRAM (BHERP)
WORKING TO EMPOWER THE MESOAMERICA BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR, MBC
Update Number 7 December 2005 INTRODUCTION The BHERP is continuing to experience success as it grows and develops. As 2005 closes, the program, now over two years in place, is looking forward to continued positive growth. A brief summary follows, in order to recall the last two years, and how these raptor events led to the present status of the BHERP.
The information being obtained has provided, for the first time ever, important data about the dispersal behavior of sub-adult Harpy Eagles. This assists the future releases of additional Harpy Eagles in Belize, and also provides vital clues for other programs involving the release and management of large forest eagles. Further research projects have evolved as a result of the success of the BHERP. The last part of 2005 has seen the beginning of a foraging and dispersion ecology study in the RBCMA. Basically, several male and female Harpy Eagles will be monitored closely for one year on a daily basis. Hunting events, habitat use, movements and other relevant data are documented. The data obtained will show how the foraging and ecological regimes of the Belize released Harpy Eagles compare to those released in Panama. STATUS OF THE HARPY EAGLES OF THE BHERP The following Harpy Eagles were soft-released in Belize in 2003. No Harpies have been soft-released in Belize since. They are now soft-released in Panama, and when confirmed to be hunting independently, are then brought to the RBCMA.
The Harpy Eagles soft-released in Panama and then brought to Belize include six birds who are monitored and are moving substantial distances throughout the forest landscape. One Harpy Eagle, a male, has been tracked and known to be within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Laguna del Tigre, over 160 km west of his initial release site. A female has been tracked and located in the forests of southern Mexico. The remaining Harpy Eagles are utilizing the forests of Belize. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE/BHERP RELEASES At this time, facilities are being constructed in Soberania National Park, Panama, to accommodate the release of more captive-bred Harpy Eagles. As these birds become independent in Panama, they will continue to be hard-released in Belize. To better understand the ecological requirements of the released Harpy Eagles, a sample of about ten birds will be followed on a regular basis in Belize in order to document their prey preferences, hunting frequency, dispersion patterns, seasonal differences in prey selection and other aspects of their natural history. This study is the first of its kind in Belize and will initially be undertaken from November 2005 into late 2006. Follow up studies will be implemented, if appropriate to the BHERP objectives. PREY ITEMS DOCUMENTED To date, the following has been documented as prey taken by the released Harpy Eagles:
SUPPORT NOTED FOR THE BHERP This program continues to receive flying support from the Belize Defence Force (BDF). Overflights have resulted in our being able to keep better track of a female known to be in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, western Belize. Overflights will be arranged in 2006 with Lighthawk and with Ecoflights. The BHERP has worked with both of these conservation organizations in the past. EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS The San Vicente School in Orange Walk District, and near the RBCMA, has visited The Belize Zoo, specifically to see “Panama”, the resident zoo Harpy Eagle. The students and teachers continue to follow the activities of the BHERP, and TBZ anticipates working closer with the San Vicente School, and the surrounding community, as the BHERP develops. “Panama” the Harpy Eagle – Birthday Celebration The resident Belize Zoo Harpy Eagle turned three years old, October 2005. The nearby community pre-school children came to the zoo to celebrate his birthday. They sang his song, “Panama the Harpy Eagle”, and answered Harpy questions for the visiting press. Both of the nation’s television stations covered this event, they made thorough mention, too, about the natural history of the Harpy Eagle, and the efforts being made to restore them back into their former Belizean range. Billboards Two billboards have been developed and established – one, on the western highway nearby TBZ, the next on the northern highway, approximately 30 miles north of Belize City. A Harpy Eagle is on one side of the billboard, a Jaguar on the opposite side. The message reads: PROTECT THE PREDATORS. THEY BALANCE NATURE. Posters A new poster, again, depicting both the Harpy Eagle and the Jaguar with the “PROETECT THE PREDATORS THEY BALANCE NATURE” message, has been produced and is being distributed through TBZ Outreach Education programs. Radio Programs There have been seventy-eight radio programs about the Harpy Eagle and birds-of-prey written and produced by Belize Coordinator, Sharon Matola. These programs are aired daily on FM-2000, a popular Belizean radio station. A Visit from Wildlife Artist, John A. Ruthven In mid-November, internationally-acclaimed wildlife artist, John A. Ruthven visited the BHERP. Mr. Ruthven has painted the four largest eagles in the world, including the Harpy Eagle. The one and only print made from this painting, was given to The Belize Zoo. This was done as a gesture aimed at drawing attention to the work TBZ is doing on behalf of restoring the Harpy Eagle back into its former Belizean forest range. Besides presenting and unveiling this print during an evening ceremony at the zoo, Mr. Ruthven, along with a group of avid Harpy Eagle fans, witnessed the release of the tenth Harpy Eagle into the RBCMA. This bird, a female, is monitored daily and reports state that she is hunting independently and moving within the RBCMA. After the release, the group was flown over the forest by the BDF. This provided a “bird’s eye view” of Harpy Eagle habitat in northwestern Belize. Publications Besides being featured in the Fall/Winter 2005 Newsletter of The Peregrine Fund, the program was given mention in Destination Belize 2006, the official Visitor Guide of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, BTIA. The BHERP will also be highlighted in the January issue of ORYX, an international conservation journal. Acknowledgements BHERP extends gratitude to the following:
The attached photos illustrate the BHERP. Please feel welcome to contact me at matola@belizezoo.org, if there are any questions or comments. Thank you for your interest in the BHERP. And please feel welcome to distribute this document. Sharon Matola, Belize Coordinator Belize Harpy Eagle Restoration Program December 2005 |
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Research
October 2007 | June 2007 | July 2006 | December 2005 | May 2005
Conservation
Conservation
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