Active Nest of the Elusive Ornate Hawk-Eagle Discovered in Colombia

In the northeastern part of the department of Antioquia, specifically in the municipality of Segovia, an unprecedented discovery was made for the conservation of Colombia’s biodiversity. Researchers from the Grandes Rapaces Colombia Project (GRP), in partnership with CES University, identified an active nest of the ornate hawk-eagle (Spizaetus ornatus), a highly elusive bird.

This species is considered one of the most important predators of the tropical forests of the Americas, making the discovery an exceptional opportunity to deepen knowledge of its biology, reproduction, and behavior. Its nesting processes are poorly documented because of the difficulty of locating and monitoring them in dense forest ecosystems.

A little-known bird because it is threatened

That is where the importance of this discovery lies, one in which researchers invested several weeks of monitoring. During that time, they managed to record behaviors associated with parental care, feeding of the chick, and the dynamics of the breeding pair. They also identified part of its diet, composed mainly of wild species such as squirrels and opossums.

This information is essential to understanding the ecological role played by the ornate hawk-eagle as a natural regulator of populations within ecosystems. But perhaps even more remains unknown about the species, as it is considered threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

In fact, the discovery of the nest is the result of several years of fieldwork and monitoring in the region. The research effort seeks to generate scientific information to strengthen conservation strategies for the country’s large birds of prey.

These species face threats associated with habitat loss, deforestation, and conflicts resulting from misconceptions about their relationship with domestic animals, CES University warned in a statement.

Mateo Giraldo Amaya, biologist and director of the Grandes Rapaces Colombia Project, confirmed that the discovery is the result of several years of work. “We have been working in the territory for nearly three years, and only now have we managed to find a pair in the middle of the nesting process. This allows us to observe fundamental aspects of their behavior, such as parental care, feeding of the chick, and the species’ relationship with the ecosystem. It is an invaluable opportunity to generate knowledge and promote its conservation,” he said.

Eagles maintain ecological balance

The bird is simply majestic. It can grow to more than one meter in height, from the tip of its tail to the crest that characterizes it. Its legs can be as large as the hand of an adult man, ending in four talons.

But it is not the only species studied by the Grandes Rapaces Colombia Project. The initiative also researches and promotes the conservation of seven species of large birds of prey: the harpy eagle, the crested eagle, the ornate hawk-eagle, the black-and-white hawk-eagle, the black hawk-eagle, the king vulture, and the solitary eagle. The conservation of these birds is essential because, as predators, they play a key role as regulators of the ecosystem.

“Some hunt monkeys, sloths, and other terrestrial animals that are generally herbivores,” Juan Camilo Arredondo, coordinator of the biological collections at CES University, explained to the newspaper El Colombiano. “If no one controlled those populations, they would consume the fruits, leaves, and seeds, creating an imbalance in the ecological chain that ultimately affects the other species in the ecosystem.”

The initiative has also become a training ground for students of Biology, Ecology, and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at CES University, who participate in applied research, wildlife monitoring, and conservation processes in different regions of Colombia.

In addition to contributing new scientific knowledge, the project has made it possible to strengthen work with local communities to promote the protection of these birds and dispel myths about their feeding behavior.