Harpy eagles are the most powerful birds of prey in the world. Standing three feet tall, with six-foot wingspans and razor-sharp talons the size of bear claws, they are the heavyweight hunters of the South American rainforest. These eagles are the top predators in the jungle canopy, feeding regularly on monkeys and sloths. But scientists know very little about them because their numbers are few, and their habitat is large. Hidden in the branches of the canopy, the birds are rarely seen, let alone filmed.
Wildlife filmmaker Fergus Beeley and his team of cameramen enter the secret world of harpy eagles, locate a nest, and struggle to document the lives of these elusive birds in Venezuela's Orinoco River jungle. It's a dangerous proposition. To obtain pictures of the parents and chick in the nest, the team risks serious injury, and is ultimately forced to wear riot gear in the oppressive jungle heat to protect themselves from the notoriously aggressive birds. But the rewards are great. The team is able to observe the chick for a full year as he grows, learns to fly, and hunt, while gathering a treasure trove of new information about these remarkable birds. When the time comes for the team to leave, Beeley finds himself surprised by the extraordinary connection he has made with the majestic young eagle he will never forget.
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