The first 2026 Neblina chick fledged in May, the second recently in late July. Our rangers are monitoring it closely.
Endangered Eagles Nest in the Neblina Reserve
There are so few Isidor's eagles left and they are dispersed so widely that it is difficult to draw conclusions on the population as a whole, thus estimates of their numbers vary widely. Some studies estimate as few as 250 adults could remain, whilst the IUCN indicates a decreasing population numbering 1400-4200. The IUCN classifies the species as Endangered.
Every hatchling is cause for celebration.
Below is one of the mature Isidor's eagles of the Neblina Reserve.
An Isidor's eagle building its nest in the Neblina Reserve this year.
Neblina's first Isidor's eagle chick of 2026
Research suggests that the Isidor's eagle requires undisturbed primary forest within its home range. This highlights the precarious circumstances of the species due to deforestation, and therefore the importance of reserves (such as Neblina) to its continued survival.
Additionally, persecution of the Isidor's eagle has been recorded in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru due to its predation on chickens. Rainforest Concern is addressing this issue in the communities of Neblina's Intag Valley with dedicated education drives and the design and construction of eagle-proof chicken coops and other non-lethal anti-predation measures.
The Isidor's Eagle has a slow generation time; it takes over a decade for an individual to breed. This is a contributing factor to their decline as young eagles cannot themselves contribute to population growth. This gives mature, regularly breeding individuals (such as the eagles of Neblina) the greatest conservation value.
We thank Joshua Allan for his photography, featured in this article.
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