New spatial methods to conserve the critically endangered Philippine eagle are being used for the first time, which will also benefit conservation management efforts for the vulnerable Mindanao bleeding heart pigeon, primarily in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor.

This was revealed during a recent webinar on Philippine Eagle range metrics and spatial conservation planning organized by the Biodiversity Corridor Project under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility.

Together with the Philippine Eagle Foundation based in Davao City in Eastern Mindanao and The Peregrine Fund based in Boise, Idaho, USA, the webinar last 30 September cited earlier technical reports on space-time home range estimates and resource selection for the national bird — one of the biggest raptors in the world.

Primary resource speakers were the PEF's Dr. Jayson Ibañez and The Peregrine Fund's Dr. Luke Sutton, UK-based ornithologist and montane forest botanist, who were the main authors of earlier scientific reports on novel processes and approaches on Philippine Eagle telemetry and range estimates.

Density estimate

"For the first time, we determine two important spatial processes for this critically endangered raptor that can help in directing conservation management," Sutton said in the reports. "Rather than employing a single home range estimator, we recommend that analysts consider multiple approaches to animal movement data to fully explore space-time and resource use."

Quantifying home range size and habitat resource selection have been important elements in wildlife ecology. They are useful for informing conservation actions, especially with regard to the Philippine Eagle.

Based on their latest inferred habitat, the current global population estimate of the Philippine Eagle is 352 breeding pairs, or 704 mature individuals across the Philippine Eagle global range.

Mr Confesor