Pag-asa Newsletter April-June 2022

PAG-ASA NEWSLETTER

July - September 2022

SAVING EAGLES

#TransferBreedingEaglesNow

We started a capital campaign to relocate the breeding stock of Philippine eagles in the Philippine Eagle Center. The landscape around the PEC has changed so much that it is no longer conducive for them to breed.

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The copulation activities of our national bird are extremely delicate. This means that the slightest disturbance could cause them to immediately stop and fixate on the source of the disturbance instead. Activities in adjacent farm lots such as hauling, land clearing, or even the sound of engines are only some the disruptions to our Philippine eagle pairs. If our natural pairs are not productive in breeding, we lose the potential hatchlings that could be released into the wild.

"Sarangani Eagle" was released on June 13, 2022.

After his release, we monitored the area for nearly 3 months.

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Sarangani Eagle was seen interacting with a wild eagle. Our monitoring team observed him with his wings drooping in submission posture. He seems to be interacting with a younger eagle. 🫶🫶

Our partner, the Tmanud Bulol Forest Guards, continue to patrol the forests of Mt. Busa, looking out for the welfare of our dear Sarangani Eagle. Thanks to them, we were able to take this photo.

Philippine Eagles Sighted in Salaysay

Our team scoured the Mounts Makabol-Alikoson Conservation Area (MMACA) to look for Philippine eagles nesting in the area. From July 11 to 20, and August 8 to 12, we spent 120 hours searching and observing Philippine eagles.

Despite frequent rains, the team detected an eagle pair, their 6-month-old young, and the new eagle nest.

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Juvenile 6-month old Philippine eagle found in the MMACA.

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We were able to document the parents as well. These are photos of an adult Philippine eagle pair who provides food for their fledgling.

The young Philippine eagle was heard making "food begging" calls to its parents.

Adopt-A-Nest Program continues to help communities

that look out for Philippine eagle breeding pairs in active nest sites.

CINCHONA, BUKIDNON - An eagle pair’s breeding attempts have been recorded by nest finder and Kitanglad Guard Volunteer (KGV) Emiliano “Blackie” Lumiston, for more than 10 years.

Another eaglet is being anticipated to fledge very soon. After consulting the community how we could help them to continue protecting this nest, we donated pots and pans for a communal kitchen that can be used in the KGVs' camps and stations in the forest.

The eaglet is estimated to be about 8-9 months old. It is dependent on its parents for food, and can often be heard making “food begging” calls. In 9 or more months, this fledgling will mature and leave its parents’ territory. We are coordinating with Protected Area Superintendent Office (PASu) to attempt to install a GPS tag on the eaglet for remote telemetry monitoring, to ensure its safety when it leaves the nest.

This is the 10th eaglet recorded since we started monitoring the area in 2006 inside the Cinchona Forest Reserve at Mt Kitanglad, Bukidnon.

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SALAYSAY, DAVAO CITY - Pastor Julito Ajao and the Bantay Bukid from Barangay Salaysay joined in the expedition conducted by PEF together with IDIS (Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability) and DENR.

As part of the incentive provided by the Adopt-A-Nest initiative, we helped them procure roofing materials.

Piloting a power pole retrofitting project to prevent

accidental electrocution of Philippine eagles

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We received an PHP 800,000 grant to install an initial 1 kilometer of insulated wire in Mt Sinaka.

A Project Advisory Council was formed with our partner IP communities in Mt. Sinaka. Then, we proceeded to conduct a site assessment, as well as design a study that monitors and evaluates the wire installation.

PROTECTING FORESTS

MONKAYO-PAGASA CARBON FOREST
TRANSFER OF TITLE UNDERWAY

The Monkayo Pagasa Carbon Forest is the 22.4-hectare forest restoration initiative in Brgy Banlag. The goal for this area is to conserve biodiversity, revive ecosystem functions, and sequester carbon.

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With the transfer of title on-going, we continue to maintain 5 hectares of land planted with native trees. The nursery currently has approximately 30,000 native seedlings. Recently, a Monkayo town ordinance has declared the MPCF as a Local Conservation Area with a PHP 100,000.00 subsidy from the LGU. This budget benefits the formed association Banlag Santol Kalikasan Workers Association (BASAKWA), as well as other local volunteers in maintaining the reforestation site.

ALI-DAVAO CARBON FOREST
CONTINUES TO BE A PREFERRED SITE FOR
VOLUNTEERING AND RESEARCH

Over the past months, the Ali-Davao Carbon Forest (ADCF) was visited by over a thousand volunteers coming from 40 different groups. Each volunteer planted at least one tree during their visit, and some of the groups pledged to visit their seedlings after 6 months.

There are 1,286 planted trees that continue to thrive at the ADCF after being planted within the months of May until September.

Among the thousands of volunteers who visited the ADCF, a sizeable portion of that number are students. Ten students chose the ADCF as the site for their college thesis. In coordination with our staff, they continue to conduct their respective methodologies in this reforestation site. All thesis topics focus on the biodiversity of the ADCF, which is a salient indicator that wildlife is thriving in this urban forest.

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II - Thesis Sampling (Mushroom Sampling)

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SECURING OUR FUTURE

ALISTO Project among TOP 15
PInnovation Academy awardees

The Indigenous Forest Stewards - Development of Forest-based DRRM Training Course developed through the ALISTO project with our partner community, the Manobo Tigwahanon, made the headlines for being an innovative solution to disaster risk management problems.

LEARN WITH MALAYA!

From kindergarten to college, everyone still gets excited to see our eagle mascot Malaya.

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MOA Signing between PEF and SAIS

MOA signing with PEF Executive Director Mr. Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, SAIS’ VP for Educational Development Ms. Nicole Bian-Ledesma, and school principal Mr. Walter Valencerina.

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Stockbridge American International School (SAIS) enrolled to a 4-day Learn with Malaya Program. Every Wednesday last July, students of different grade levels visited the PEC to learn about the Philippine eagle and other wildlife endemic to the Philippines.

On our second year of partnership with JCI Kadayawan, we conducted a Learn With Malaya session for the benefit of children in Malagos from age 6 to 13 years old.

In partnership with volunteer group Friends of the Philippine Eagle (FPE), Malaya graced the opening of campus clubs, with a volunteer orientation facilitated by FPE officers. University students got to sign up as volunteers and buy Bird Merch!

VolunTourists at the PEC

We pilot tested the VolunTourist Program (VTP)

with 4 participants from the US, UK, Australia, and Manila.

VTP offers a customizable volunteer itinerary suited to tourists and want to do more than just visit the PEC.

VolunTourists get to work side by side with different PEF staff from keeper routines at the PEC, to assisting in awareness-building events, and even a chance to do fieldwork. This program offers a firsthand experience on being a Philippine eagle conservationist.

Keeper Jesse, Anna from Australia, and Benyn from UK

Benyn emceeing for a program at the PEC

Voluntourists with Volunteers and Interns

From left to right: Conservation Education Program Manager Carla, Nico from US, Benyn from UK, long-time volunteer Marielle, interns Jay-ar and Beth

Keeper Jesse, Anna from Australia, and Benyn from UK

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Bob Kennedy's CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS IN PHILIPPINE EAGLE CONSERVATION

Solidarity Run for Peace, Health, and the Philippine Eagle

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American Ornithologist Dr. Bob Kennedy helped launch the Monkey-eating Eagle Conservation Program in the 70s which later grew into the PEF.

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In his return last August, we organized with him the Solidarity Run for Peace, Health, and the Philippine Eagle to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his arrival in the country. Bob successfully ran 102 kms on the Bataan Death March route in two days!

The event was supported by our LGU partners in Pampanga and in Bataan, PEF corporate member Philippine Airlines, Philippine eagle adopter Seda Hotels, Philippine eagle champion Mr. Kim Atienza and his wife PEF President Feli Atienza, the Bataan Running Club, and PNP from Pampanga and Bataan.

VirtualRacePH made it possible for runners from anywhere in the world to join Bob virtually. They raised a total donation of Php 29,000 by pledging Php 100 for every registration. PEF corporate member Insular Life Foundation, Inc. also joined in Bob's cause by donating Php 50,000.

AgiLaya Campaign in the Caraga Region

A week after he completed the ultramarathon in the Bataan Death March Route, Bob went to the Caraga Region in Mindanao for the AgiLaya Campaign. Bob shared his 50 year-worth of Philippine eagle conservation stories to inspire more people. PEF Director for Research and Conservation Dr. Jayson Ibanez also gave a talk on the threats of hunting, shooting, and trapping to our national bird. We also screened To Save Our Eagle (2018), a 45-minute version of the award-winning documentary Bird of Prey (2018).

Conversation on Conservation:
The Past, Present, and Future of Philippine Eagle Conservation

On his last day in Mindanao, Bob visited the PEC to join us in an episode of Conversation on Conservation. It was a trip down memory lane with Bob as he shared stories from the early days of eagle expedition with the PEF staff and the visitors at the center.

Part 1 of Conversation on Conservation: The Past, Present, and Future of Philippine Eagle Conservation

Part 2 of Conversation on Conservation: The Past, Present, and Future of Philippine Eagle Conservation