This project focuses in the conservation of one of the most threatened and less known bird of prey in the Neotropics: the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori). This large raptor is endemic of the Montane Cloud Forests of South America (1.000-3.400 m.a.s.l.), ranging from the Andes and coastal ranges of northern Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to northwestern Argentina (10°N to 28°S). It is also present in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (11°N), in northern Colombia.Due to his low population numbers (estimated in less than 1.000 mature individuals) and the ongoing threats (principally habitat loss and human persecution), the IUCN recently include the Black-and-chestnut Eagle in the list of Endangered species.

The Andean montane cloud forests are currently a major global conservation priority owing to their high species richness and high level of endemism. These conditions are favored by a high habitat diversity, resulting from complex climatic and spatial gradients. Despite the breath ecosystem services that the Andean montane cloud forest provide is widely recognized, they are considered the least known ecosystems in the tropics. 

Following the conservation actions proposed to improve the conservation status of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle by BirdLife International (2016), our general objective is to substantially increase current knowledge about key aspects of its natural history and begin to articulate future conservation measures together with an increasing network of interested partners (government agencies, NGOs, communities, private, etc.). To achieve this we will work on the following objectives: 

•Carry out dissemination of the project to raise awareness in the communities

•Estimate breeding population densities

•Study breeding behavior and dietary habits

•Study the juvenile natal dispersal, habitat use and survivorship

•Evaluate adult habitat use and estimating his home range size

•Evaluate the human-eagle conflict

•Establish scientist-community relationships stimulating citizen science

•Prepare a regional conservation proposal