Exploring Davao City: The Philippine Eagle Center

I was supposed to write this post in continuation to my Davao series of adventures but my offline job is so demanding lately that I already had another trip to Davao City last week and this post is still on my draft. Huh!

Life has been very busy for me lately. Anyway, now that I got a chance to continue writing and eventually publish this post, I hope you’ll read and joined me and my colleagues in our day trip to the habitat of the mighty king of the sky the monkey-eating Philippine eagle.

The Philippine Eagle Center is located at Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City, the Conservation Breeding Facility of the Philippine Eagle Foundation about 300 meters from the Calinan Highway.

With an entrance fee of P150.00 you’ll get to explore the place and get up close with the Philippine eagle as well as other animals, in the conservatory.

But before going in, let us be reminded of the following;

The tour was actually on our own, without a guide in sight. Probably they can provide one if we had asked. But since we are all adults, we settled by just following the signs and the pathways.

First stop is the Sleeping Crocodile.

Looking at the position of the crocodile we thought it was made of cement because we can’t see traces of life. We took some photo and left the area doubting it was really a statue.

Next Stop is the Star of the House, PAGASA.

Pag-asa is the first male Philippine eagle born in captivity in January 15, 1992. Bred through artificial insemination, he was the first of its kind, and the first offspring of Diola and Junior.

He was resting in his nest from afar, and flew towards us showing his magnificent physique. What a beautiful 23 year-old Philippine eagle, I could have taken more awesome pictures, if I had my DSLR with me. Hah! My phone camera can only give me this much.

Do you know Pag-asa is already a dad? At the age of 21, his offspring was hatched at the Philippine Eagle Foundation and was named Mabuhay after being determined as female. Bred also through artificial insemination by Kalinawan a 29-year old Philippine eagle rescued from Zamboanga del Sur and using Pag-asa’s semen. 

grass owl

Giant Scoops Owl

Along the way before meeting up close with Scout Binay, I have seen for the first time, this cute creature that I have only seen on TV and in my kid’s children’s songs. Grass owls with the cutest faces are also held in captivity in the foundation alongside with the Giant Scoops owls and much small Philippine Scoops owls.

And there standing on his pedestal is the 13-year old Scout Binay. He is the only Philippine eagle who’s outside the big cage. He’s freely standing and showing his might to the visitors. He was adopted by VP Jejomar Binay and is one of the very popular eagles who have appeared on various ads, short films and documentaries.

Also, another one standing on his own pedestal is Fighter the 4-year old male eagle. Unlike Scout Binay, Fighter already lost his freedom to fly, after he was gun shot that led to the amputation of his “primary feather part” of his left wing. And he is good in selfie too...

Ooops Sorry can't find Hiyas... on the left is Gloria Victoria

Other eagles held side by side in a dome like cage are Hiyas and Gloria Victoria. Hiyas a female eagle is being paired with Gloria Victoria that is why they are caged in the same dome, but with separator (fence in between).

Also in the cage are Dakila, Maginoo, Kaibigan, etc. Aside from the Philippine eagle, other species such as the Brahminy Kite locally known as Banog, Pinskers Hawk Eagle, Gray-headed Fishing Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle and a few more are also in the foundation.

Banog

Before heading out, we spotted two of the employees near Fighter, and we’re able to chat with them and asked a few questions, that’s the reason why we have known that Gloria Victoria is actually a male eagle (hindi kasi nagbasa) and currently in the “getting to know" stage with Hiyas and why Fighter is in his pedestal, and actually forgot about Scout Binay. Huh!

Oh, and Mr Croco, we asked them if it is really for real, they said that it is and try calling him “Chub-chub” if it will respond. We tried calling him, but sadly he’s really not in the mood to respond to our irritating calls. But at least he is in a different position compared an hour before and we can actually see him breathing. A sign of life!

Next time, you visit Davao City, make sure to add Philippine Eagle Center in your list and of course bring the most decent camera you can. Ours was an unplanned trip that is why I only have my smartphone with me. Next time around, I’ll make sure to bring with me the DSLR and get an up close photos with these wonderful huge kings of the sky, our national bird, the Philippine Eagle.

Philippine Eagle Foundation

Address:

Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City, Philippines

Landline:

+63 082 324 1860

Mobile number:

+639177198093

Email address:

info@philippineeaglefoundation.org