Philippine Eagle sighted in Apayao

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called on the villagers of Apayao province to protect the Philippine Eagle following reports of sightings of the endangered bird species in the locality.

Clarence Baguilat, DENR director for Cordillera, cited reports from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau that there have been sightings of the Philippine Eagle in Apayao’s forested areas.

He also said that Philippine Eagles were previously spotted in November 2012 in at least two areas in the northern Cordillera province: Mount Lambayo in Pudtol town’s Barangay Lydia and Mount Asi, Baliwanan in Kabugao town.

The DENR also received reports of another sighting of the eagles in the thickly forested municipality of Calanasan, prompting the agency to deploy a team of experts to conduct research and determine if the birds have nesting sites in the areas.

Baguilat said these areas would be declared government-protected to preserve the rare bird species from possible indiscriminate hunting, loss of habitat through cutting of trees and other related interventions.

Besides Apayao, Iligan City in Lanao del Norte and Leyte were also recently recognized by the DENR as new sites for the Philippine Eagle. And the DENR said these recent sightings offer “new beacons of hope” for the continued existence of country’s national bird.

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines. The bird is known to be geographically restricted to the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao, according to the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

The Philippine Eagle is considered one of the world’s largest and most powerful bird species, but it is also one of the world’s rarest and certainly among its most critical endangered vertebrate species, the foundation added.