"As we headed along a narrow river towards our destination, we had to cope with heat and humidity and navigate huge rocks and fallen logs. All this just to see a baby bird. I say baby, but harpy eagles named after mythical ancient Greek spirits with a raptor's body and a woman's head are easily the biggest bird of prey in the Americas, and one of the largest in the world."
"Fortunately, soon after we arrived the youngster materialised seemingly out of nowhere, staring balefully across the river towards us from his nesting tree. Roughly 18 months old, and almost 4ft (1.2 metres) tall, his appearance was quite bizarre: pale grey, his white head adorned with plumes like a court jester's hat. He called plaintively to his parents somewhere in the surrounding forest, begging them to bring back food."
A narrow river journey through Guyana required coping with heat, humidity, huge rocks, and fallen logs to reach a nesting tree. Harpy eagles breed only every two to three years, making sightings rare and uncertain. A juvenile harpy eagle appeared, roughly 18 months old and nearly 1.2 metres tall, with pale grey plumage and a white head adorned with plume-like feathers. The young bird called plaintively for parents to bring food, but no adult returned despite alarm calls from nearby howler monkeys. The juvenile remained waiting as haunting calls echoed while the journey concluded.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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