people about the plight of the Philippine national bird.

During my stay in the Philippines, I made it my priority to travel to Davao, home of The Philippine Eagle Center and Foundation. I wanted to connect with the Foundation and have a chance to see a Philippine Eagle for the first time in the flesh. Of course I lost my marbles with excitement!

Passionate and humble, Rai Gomez, the center’s education manager gave me more insight on the Philippine Eagle and their work which is focused on preservation and conservation. This raptor is the largest land animal found in Philippine forests. They grow up to three feet high with a seven foot wingspan, the broadest in the world! They play a key role in the biodiversity in the region. Thesethe only birds with blue-grey eyes, so sharp they can see eight times better than humans. What I found most interesting is they “refocus” their eyes by bobbing their head around, as their vision works similarly to a camera lens.

Philippine Eagles are solitary animals and fiercely territorial, needing at least 7,000 hectares of space. They’ll attack and kill any eagle found encroaching in their space. Despite this, they are EXTREMELY loyal once they find their soulmate! They only have one mate in their lifetime, laying one egg at a time. It takes a couple years for their babies to grow up, but are eventually kicked out of the nest to find their own territories. The Center has spent over three decades perfecting the art of breeding, with a