The third quarter of 2026 has just commenced. Moreover, June is recognized as one of the busiest months of the year in the Philippines.
For instance, it marks the wedding season, as June is associated with swoon and honeymoon. June also signifies the beginning of the academic year – despite the onset of the rainy season occurring in this month.
More significantly, the entire month is designated as Environment Month. This is particularly vital for those in Davao, as the Philippine Eagle Week is commemorated, which began on June 4 and will conclude on June 10.
This celebration serves to enhance awareness regarding the conservation of the critically endangered national bird. Instituted by Proclamation No. 79 in 1999, this nationwide observance unites government bodies and non-profit organizations to safeguard the country’s bird icon and its forest ecosystems.
Why is there so much ado about Philippine Eagle? Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Along with it is the disappearance of one of the country’s natural treasures and the sad reality of the state of our environment.
The PEF oversees the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC), a sanctuary situated in barangay Malagos. PEC functions as a breeding facility for conservation purposes and the staff are diligently working to prevent the Philippine eagle from joining the dodo into extinction.
The Philippine eagles once dominated the forests of Mount Apo, the highest peak in the country. Regrettably, this is no longer true. The majestic flapping of the bird’s wings in the sky, which mesmerized all who witnessed it, has vanished. Only a small number remain.
Aside from Mount Apo, Philippine eagles could also be observed soaring over the forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon, as well as in Samar and Leyte in the Visayas. Like those in Mindanao, their population has significantly decreased.
No wonder, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the Philippine eagle as an endangered species.
If only the Philippine eagle could speak, these would be its heartfelt pleas: “I have watched forests disappear, rivers dry up, floods ravage the soil, droughts spawn uncontrolled fires, hundreds of my forest friends vanish forever and men leave the land because it was no longer productive. I am witness to the earth becoming arid. I know all life will eventually suffer and die if this onslaught continues. I am a storyteller, and I want you to listen before it’s too late.”
The Philippine eagle ranks as the second rarest eagle, following the Madagascar sea eagle. In terms of size, it surpasses the American bald eagle, making it the world’s second largest eagle, only after the Harpy eagle found in Central and South America.
This raptor was initially identified in 1896 by the English naturalist John Whitehead in Samar. He originally named it the monkey-eating eagle, believing it primarily preyed on monkeys, and assigned it the scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi. This name is derived from two Greek terms: pitekos meaning “monkey” and phagien meaning “to eat.” The name Jefferyi serves as a tribute to his father, Jeffrey, who financed his expedition.
In 1978, the previous name was abandoned and replaced with its current designation through Presidential Decree No. 1732, following the discovery that monkeys constitute a negligible part of the bird’s diet.
The Philippine eagle, a magnificent bird, reaches a height of one meter, weighs between four to seven kilograms, and possesses a grip that is three times stronger than that of the strongest human, as reported by PEF.
Boasting a wingspan of nearly seven feet and capable of reaching speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour, the Philippine eagle can elegantly descend upon unsuspecting prey and seize it without losing altitude.
In contrast to humans, Philippine eagles are known for their monogamous nature. Once it has selected a partner, it is for keeps forever. “Once an eagle reaches sexual maturity – at around five years for males – it is bound for life with its mate. They can be seen soaring in pairs in the skies,” PEF states.
During the breeding season, eagles engage in aerial courtship and mate either in the nest or in its vicinity. The eagle’s nest is situated approximately 80 feet above the ground, typically on tall trees, located on prominent mountain peaks that overlook a river or stream, providing an excellent view of its territory.
According to PEF, the female eagle lays a single egg every two years. Both parents take turns incubating the egg for around 60 days, with the female dedicating more time to incubation while the male is responsible for hunting.
After hatching, the eaglet stays in the nest for approximately 5.5 months. Once it fledges, the parents continue to care for the young eagle for up to 17-18 months, teaching it essential skills such as flying, hunting, and surviving independently. The young eagle reaches maturity in about six years.
On why the Philippine eagle is nearing extinction, Scientific American surmised: “One of the big hurdles in conserving the Philippine eagle is that each breeding pair requires a range up to 40 square kilometers to adequately feed and rear their offspring, which makes it particularly vulnerable to deforestation.”
Salvador agrees. “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest has made it lose its natural habitat,” he stressed, adding that a pair of Philippine eagles needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory.
The Global Forest Watch has indicated that the Philippines is home to roughly 7 million hectares of forest cover, accounting for approximately 24% of its total land area of 30 million hectares. This figure demonstrates a notable decrease compared to earlier years, despite continuous initiatives aimed at combating deforestation and encouraging reforestation.
The country’s remaining forests reportedly can only support an average of 392 pairs of Philippine eagles. “That’s the average,” Dr. Jayson C. Ibanez, director of PEC’s research and conservation division, said in a text message. “The maximum number of pairs that the sustainable predicted suitable forest habitat can possibly contain is 447 pairs.”
Similar to other bird species, the Philippine eagles also face significant threats from hunting and shooting. These activities represent some of the main dangers to the Philippine Eagle, with evidence indicating that juvenile eagles are especially at risk. “At least one Philippine eagle is killed every year because of shooting,” the PEF said.
Another one is diseases. A retrospective study was conducted from 1970 to 2006 to identify the causes of mortality of the birds admitted from the wild and those hatched in captivity at the PEC.
According to the study, the cause of death for the majority of wild-caught birds was unknown (44.4%), followed by infectious disease (25%), metabolic and nutritional disease (16.7%), trauma (11.1%) and neoplasia (2.8%).
Causes of mortality for captive-bred eagles were identified as congenital anomaly, metabolic disease, pneumonia, and electrocution.
Efforts to save the Philippine eagles started in 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine Conservation efforts.
American aviator Charles Lindberg, who described the Philippine eagle as “the world’s noblest flier,” spearheaded a drive to save the bird from 1969 to 1972. Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed.
In July 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 615 naming the Philippine eagle as the country’s national bird. He said that the eagle is found only in the Philippines and as such should be a source of national pride.
“If the national bird dies,” Ramos said, “so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures.”
