Plight of the Philippine Eagle

Philippine Eagles (Philippine’s national bird) are native to the region. They have brown/white feathers, distinct crests, and are some of the largest eagle species. Despite protection efforts, they’re critically endangered due to deforestation. Climate change exacerbates this issue, as rapid environmental changes negatively affect birds. With current models estimating a 2.5-to-10-degree Fahrenheit temperature increase within the century, some avian populations won’t survive the next 40 years. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs throughout tens of millions of years. Therefore, the lifesaving adaptations that could save the Philippine Eagles (improved body temperature control, hunting abilities, etc.) won’t occur before the species vanishes. Consequently, I photographed my Philippine Eagle drawing in two locations—a rainforest and the urbanized environment that’s destroying the population. The bird’s features remain unchanged, representing the inability of avian species to acquire drastic adaptations before their predicted extinction. Without intervention, this is a devastating, but realistic fate of Philippine Eagles.