Photographing Harpy Eagles in Brazil

in Nature by Marcelo Krause — October 18, 2009 at 3:42 PM | 0 comments

The Harpy Eagle is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas. Too see and photograph one of these animals in a natural habitat is a fantastic experience. They are not easy to find since they need big patches of preserved tropical forest for its survival. To increase the chances of seeing one, the best is to find a pair of eagles on a nest. They spend a lot of time around the nest when the chick is young. Birdwatching guide Paulo Boute can take you to a few places in Brazil where they can be found. I was on a trip with him the first time I saw a Harpy Eagle in Mato Grosso. It was hard to get close and make a good shot, because it was perched on a high tree with lot of branches. The size of the eagle was what impressed me most. The Harpy Eagle is considered near threatened by IUCN and threatened with extinction by CITES.

Another good place to photograph Harpy Eagles is the Floresta Amazônica Hotel, at Alta Floresta, MT. With climbing gear one can climb a tree and stay on a small improvised platform. From the platform there is a good view of a nearby Harpy Eagle’s nest. The pictures below were taken in a 2 hour time window between my transfer from Cristalino Jungle Lodge and my flight back home.