The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) in the Infierno Native Community

Data on nesting sites and diet composition

By: Renzo P. Piana MSc.

I. The study area

The project was conducted in the Infierno Native Community (INC). Province of Tambopata, department of Madre de Dios, southeastern Per. (see map). The area is adjacent to the recently created Tambopata National Reserve. The INC is situated 20 km south of Puerto Maldonado.

Characteristics of the study area

Position (1243 S; 6913 W). Altitude 330 masl. Communal owned territory (private land). Life Zone: Sub Tropical Humid forest (ONERN 1976;
Holdridge 1978).

Temperature: 25 C (although temperature can drop to 10 C between June and July). Precipitation: Two seasons Dry season: 500 mm (April-Sept.) Wet season: 2000 mm (Oct.- March)
SENAMHI 2000.

Data collected
Position of nests were obtained with GPS (Magellan Trailblazer and Garmin III+). Observations of forest types and evidence of human impacts were assessed. Distances between nesting sites were obtained with the aid of GPS. Prey remains were collected at the base of the nesting trees, at the base of feeding perches and inside abandoned nests.

Results

Table 1: Harpy Eagles nests found in the INC

Nest Miguel Escuela I Escuela II Gallito Marcelo Carrazco Average Tree species
Bertholletia excelsa Dipterix micrantha Bertholletia excelsa Dipterix micrantha Bertholletia excelsa Bertholletia excelsa DBH (cm) Nest height (m)

Observations
Brazil nut stand. Low impact. Brazil nut stand. High impact. Brazil nut stand. High impact. Low terrace. High impact. Brazil nut stand. Medium impact. Brazil nut stand. Low impact.

156 140 124 126 138 149 138

27 24 21 26 25 24 24.5

Nests architecture and position on tree crown

Miguel nest was located on a dead brazil nut tree. Very low impact of extractive activities. At least one chick fledged from this nest. Nest on main ramification of tree crown.

Nests architecture and position on tree crown

Escuela I nest was locates two km away from the center of the INC. High impact of extractive activities. Two consecutive chicks died before fledging. The adults abandoned the nest.

Prey remains analysis

In total 112 prey remain samples were collected 90% of the samples were in the form of casts.
2 41 11 9 1 2 1 1 6 1 21 51 2 1 1 1 08 silaipu sram sihplediD innamffoh supeolohC sutageirav supydarB alyt cadartet audnamaT * sut cni cinu suo s sa baC sulu cine s atauolA *.p s sutoA allepa su beC au san au saN ara bra b ariE suvalf sutoP rolo ci b uodneoC p s ano zamA *ireivu c sot sahpmaR * sutanimlu c sot sahpmaR sei cep s dri b nwon knU la toT

80 (71%) prey remains were identified.

Nails, hairs, maxillae, jawbones, teeth, cranium fragments, beaks and feathers were easily identified.

Ammount of identified prey remains (%).

10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 0.0%
2.50% 18.75% 17.50% 13.75% 11.25% 1.25% 7.50% 1.25%

5.0%

Fig 2: Percentage) of identified prey remains consumed by Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja ) in the INC (n=80).

Prey species
2.50% 2.50% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25%

15%

Di de lph is m Co ars up e Ch ial olo ndo i ep u b s ic o u Br lo ad s ho yp ffm r Ta an ma us v n ar nd ieg i Ca ua a te ba tra tus ss da ou c s un ty la ic i n Na s u c tus a na Eir su a a ba rb Po ar tu Al a s ou f la at v a s e us nic u A o lus tu s Ce bu s p. s ap Ra A m az ella o Ra mph as na mp sp to ha . s cu Un s to v ie s kn ow c ulm rii i n bir natu d sp s ec ies

Potus flavus

Nasua nasua

Coendou bicolor

Bradypus variegatus

Choloepus hoffmanni

Tamandua tetradactyla

Fig 3: Day activity status (diurnal, nocturnal or both) of preys consumed by the Harpy Eagle in the INC. Based on
the analysis of identified prey remains (n=80) after Emmons 1990.

25%

18%

Diurnal (birds, {Cebus & Alouatta}, Nasua, Eira). Nocturnal (Didelphis, Choloepus, Cabassous, Aotus, Potus, Coendou ) Both (Tamandua, Bradypus).

57%

Fig 4: Canopy level (arboreal, terrestrial or both) of species consumed by the Harpy Eagle in the INC. Based on
the analysis of identified prey remains (n=79) after Emmons 1990.

15%

15%

Terrestrial (Cabassous, Nasua). Arboreal (Coendou, sloths, primates, Potus, birds). Both (Tamandua, Didelphis, Eira).

70%

Conclusions -On nesting trees From June 1996 to May 2001, six active Harpy Eagles nests were found in the INC. Four of these nests were on Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) trees. The remaning two were on Shihuahuaco (Dipterix micrantha) trees. The average DBH of nesting trees used by harpies in the INC was 138 cm. The average height were the nests where located was 24.5 m.

Conclusions
-on nesting areas-

The average distance between breeding sites (n=3) was 7,4 km. The average breeding area for a pair of Harpy Eagles in the INC was estimated in 4300 ha. Of the five nests found, four where located in areas where Brazil nut collection is performed. Human activities such as Brazil nut collection and palm leaves collection have no impact on harpies nesting activities.

Conclusions -on prey remains analysis 112 prey remains were collected on four nesting sites. Of these, 80 (71%) were identified. At least 15 species (mammals & birds) were predated by the Harpy Eagles in the INC. 67 (84%) of the identified remains belonged to 6 mammal spp. Of these 6 mammal spp. Bicolor-spined porcupine (C. bicolor) was the most abundant prey, making up to 19% of the identified remains.

Conclusions -on prey remains analysis Sloths (two-toed and three toed) were the most abundant group of mammals consumed by Harpies, making up to 31% of the prey remains that were identified. 57% (46) of the prey remains that were identified belonged to nocturnal mammals. 70% (56) of the prey remains that were identified belonged to arboreal mammal.