Ah harpy eagles are magnificent. A professor I had earlier this year worked in Belize on harpy eagle conservation. Unfortunately the species arent doing well, as they are very often shot by people who are afraid of them :( I am glad to see a post celebrating what amazing creatures they are.
Howdy passerine! That's very interesting about Belize and I'm sorry that they aren't doing well, the articles I read all said that. I don't understand people shooting them though. I mean, I know they are huge but they aren't going after humans are they? Thanks so much for commenting!
There is a lack of education/understanding about the harpy eagle and locals think the eagles steal their chickens and will try to kill children too. Out of the 17 eagles that my professor's team released, at least 13 were shot and killed :( a positive outcome of his work in Belize is his founding of a nonprofit conservation organization in Belize that has a big focus on education, so hopefully there is more understanding for these birds now than there was back then.
Howdy today passerine! God bless him for doing that important work there. The numbers are shocking, 13 of the 17 were killed? wow. That's astounding. Thanks so much for the wonderful explanation!