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James and the Giant Eagle

In the rainforest canopy, James Aldred encounters one of the world's most powerful birds of prey, the Harpy Eagle. From 2011.

Like most small boys, James Aldred loved climbing trees. Now he鈥檚 grown up, he's still climbing trees; helping scientists and film crews up into the canopy.

When he was invited to help a wildlife team film one of the world's largest eagles in Southern Brazil, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. But what happened next was a nerve-wracking and painful encounter with one of the world's most powerful birds.

Harpy Eagles have a body length of over 3 feet, a wingspan of over 6 feet and weigh 10-12 pounds. Their hind talons can grow up to the size of grizzly bear claws, and are used to strike their prey; monkeys, sloths and possums, which they then carry aloft. When James was asked to climb a tree, to assist with moving a camera on an eagle's nest, he found out exactly why these birds have such an awesome reputation.

Harpy Eagles are found in tropical lowland forests from southeast Mexico to northern Argentina and southern Brazil. They are successful predators, owing primarily to their size and strength.

Highly manoeuvrable fliers, they are acutely observant and opportunistic birds. Taken together these attributes make for a highly impressive predator.

Discover the behaviour and ecology of Harpy Eagles and what happens when a female tries to protect her young. Location recordings by James Aldred are combined with insights from ornithologist Ian Newton and field biologist, Marta Curti.

Producer Sarah Blunt

First broadcast on 成人快手 Radio 4 in April 2011

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Tue 29 Jun 2021 02:30

Broadcasts

  • Fri 22 Apr 2011 11:00
  • Tue 14 Aug 2012 11:00
  • Thu 16 Aug 2012 21:00
  • Mon 20 Feb 2017 06:30
  • Mon 20 Feb 2017 13:30
  • Mon 20 Feb 2017 20:30
  • Tue 21 Feb 2017 01:30
  • Mon 28 Jun 2021 14:30
  • Tue 29 Jun 2021 02:30