Milton Arcos, forest guard at the Neblina Reserve, is studying and protecting Endangered black-and-chestnut eagles at the Neblina Reserve, Ecuador. In this blog, he describes his recent encounters with this majestic and important species.
Once again, the day broke clear, with the bright sun and strong winds so characteristic of summer. It's 6:00am, and I find myself wondering about the well-being of the juvenile eagles. Just last week, the young eagle from the reserve's nest was already leaping from tree to tree outside its nest; you could say it's entering its teenage years and craving independence.
By 8:15 am, I had arrived at the nest at the Neblina Reserve. Everything was eerily silent as I pulled out my binoculars and focused on the empty nest. It has been three weeks since the young eagle left its nest. I spent over an hour in observation, and then, in the distance, I heard the unmistakable vocalisation of the juvenile. What a relief to know it's doing well! For more than 20 minutes, I meticulously scanned the area with my binoculars until I finally spotted it perched on a tree branch.It almost seemed as if it had come to say hello, reassuring me not to worry any more.
