Flight of the Banog, Plight of the Bagobo

Photographing the Philippine Eagles at Mt. Apo Natural Park

It was discovered in 1895 and was named Monkey-eating Eagle. In 1965, wildlife biologist Dioscoro Rabor called the attention of the world of the eagle’s dwindling population. In 1966, President Ferdinand Marcos declared it a protected species, established a conservation program in 1969, and in 1978, renamed it the Philippine Eagle. In 1995, President Fidel Ramos proclaimed it the National Bird of the Philippines.

“Regal,” “Majestic” and “Kingly” are the words used to described it. Its titles include “King of Birds,” “Lord of the Forest,” “Air’s Noblest Flyer,” “World’s Largest Eagle,” “Philippines’ Biggest Winged Animal,” “Crown Jewel of Philippine Biodiversity,” but none more fitting than “Haring Ibon” or “Haribon” as the Filipino people christened it to be.

The Great Philippine Eagle is the fitting symbol of the Filipino nation’s aspiration to soar to greatness!

Two hours after we have climbed the approach of the eastern side of Mt. Apo Natural Park, we saw with awe the Great Philippine Eagle soaring above us. It circled twice before it flew away towards the south. It was a dream come true for wildlife and bird photographers like us – to pay homage and to photograph in the wild Haring Ibon, the King of Birds, the Lord of the Forest, the largest and most majestic eagle of the world.

Earlier, we saw an adult eagle brooding at the middle of a huge nest that lay at the bosom of a red lauan tree in a steep ravine in an old growth forest. After more than an hour, the eagle suddenly rose up and spread its wings as another adult eagle suddenly landed on the nest with its head bowed down, yet its wings still spread wide atop. It was like a duel with each of the eagle standing at opposite corners of the nest, their wings spread upward. They slowly moved counter clock-wise, as if in cadence, until the newly arrived flew out and soared high. And then the remaining adult picked something up and started eating, it was a prey delivered by the other. The folks told us that eagle that brought the food was the male, while the other much bigger one is the female. Then we noticed a single egg at the middle of the nest. It would hatch later after eleven days, just three days before Christmas.

Day -11

Three days earlier, the Wild Bird photographers of the Philippines, Inc. (WBPP) entered into an agreement with the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. While our President Rey Sta Ana was signing with BMB Director Mundita Lim-Sison the partnership for the conservation of the Philippine Eagle, primary through photo and video documentation, I and a group of fellow bird photographers were birding in Barangay Eden in Davao City when news about the sighting of nesting Philippine Eagles at the Mt. Apo Natural Park reached us.

I immediately called up BMB for a possible first engagement under the just-signed agreement. The agency responded with quick dispatch and after some back-and-forth texts and calls with the main office and DENR Region X, the first undertaking under the partnership was underway. On December 12, after birding in Picop Timberland Forest in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, we met with DENR Region X and Regional Eagle Watch Team Region 10 Team Leader Jose Lechoncito, Jr. and together we proceeded to the eagle site.

Day -11

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Day 26

In the online discussions that ensued after the posting of the first photos of the eagles at the WBPP Group Page, an observation was made that the tree where the nest and the eagles were photographed was the same tree that was photographed by National Geographic in 2007 when they featured the Lord of the Forest. The site is the same. Questions were raised how come it took Filipino photographers almost six years to discover the site of NatGeo’s documentary. Was the site purposely hidden from Filipino photographers and birders?

An online search for images of the Philippine Eagle in the wild resulted on many photos made by foreign photographers, and just a handful made by Filipinos, mostly by bird tour operators or guides. The national bird was seen in the wild and photographed more by foreigners, than by Filipinos. This was one of the reasons that prompted WBPP to really seek out partnership with DENR-BMB – to enable Filipino bird photographers document their own national bird and other endemic birds and contribute to raising awareness towards their eventual conservation.

Day 60

As if to celebrate the eaglet’s 60th day of existence on that day, the father Philippine Eagle brought a civet cat prey before the mother and their child in a rarely photographed family gathering. The Philippine Eagle was formerly called the Monkey-eating Eagle. The folks told us that monkeys are the favorite preys of the eagles there, and so are other big birds and even boars, wild pigs. They also prey on cats and chickens that loitered around a few of the houses on the mountain tops. The folks have many stories about the eagle’s hunting and preying habits, but even if a few of their domestic animals have been preyed upon in the past, they have loved and protected the eagle. The “Banog,” as they called it, is part of their life and culture and has been with them since time immemorial. Like the old growth forest in their ancestral lands, the Philippine Eagles have been part of their lives and the lives of their ancestors.

Day 75

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It was already 75 days old and the little eaglet was seen flapping its wings whenever strong winds blow. Sometimes it walked upright and raised its crest whenever a raptor approaches the nest. Small as it was, it was ready to fight and it showed a brave front of itself as a formidable raptor.

Day 75

The Sinabbadan Tribal Council adopted several rules that governed the influx of tourists into their domain. Since the first photos of the eagles came out twice in a national daily and news of the eagle site reached the various circles of birders, local and foreign birdwatchers and bird photographers have trooped to the eagle site. The council has ruled that visitors must show courtesy to the Sinabbadan and to the community. As such, they must register their names in the Visitors’ Logbook. They should hire “Bantek Puwalasan” or Forest Guards organized by the Sinabbadan as guides. Visitors are also required to attend to the orientation of the Sinabbadan before proceeding to the Philippine Eagle site, and must pay the required Conservation and Environment Fee.

Tribal chief Datu Hernan explained that the fees collected have been appropriated by the Sinabbadan for special purposes. He said that 50% of the fees collected will go to patrolling of the entire ancestral land, to seminars and trainings, to the establishment of a nursery of endemic trees, to the maintenance of peace and order, and to youth scholarship. The remaining 50% is allotted to operations and infrastructure development.

Day 130

The 130-day old young eagle was photographed flying from the nest to a nearby branch, and then back again to the nest. It tried to do the same to another branch, as if testing the strength of its wings in lifting its growing body. As observed by Robert Kennedy, author of the book “A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines,” the pattern of juvenile development of the Philippine Eagle is as follows: first time off nest, 118 to 151 days; fledged (departed nest tree), 130 to 164 days; started to wander from nest area, 246-288 days; first observed kill, 304 days; and last seen in parent’s home range, 640 days.

On May 8, the young eagle has fledged. For the first time, it flew from the nest tree, heralding the realization of a new hope and a continuing life for the Philippine Eagle.

Day 130

In every visit the group undertakes at the eagle site, the visiting team mobilizes porters from the community. One photographer usually gets one porter and pays him/her a fair daily wage for the service. The team also requests some folks in the community to cook for their lunch, instead of bring food in the area. They partake of the traditional native coffee, including the boiled bananas and fresh fruits like marangs which grew abundantly in the area. When the team leaves, they even buy ground coffee or coffee beans that the people grow in the fields.

Always, the team interacts with Aning and Aljo, the land owners of the vantage points where one usually positions to observe and take photos, and their families and all those who provided services as porters, cooks or serves. We tried to learn customs, culture and everything about the Philippine Eagles, the forest and their tribe. The team also shares their knowledge about birds and the environment. They show photos and images of birds and teach the folks their English names, while they learn from them the local names.

With the help of Jocer Ado, our visits to the community became more organized and meaningful. Ado helped organized the porters, the cooks, and other helpers. He made sure that every family in the sitio participates in helping out and in supporting each expedition. At the end of the day, Ado distributes the funds provided for the services and food. And usually at night time, the folks gather together to feast and drink to their merriment.