San Diego Zoo Harpy Eagle Reminds People to Stop and Smell the Roses
Sometimes we all need a reminder to stop and appreciate the little things in life. Lucky for us, San Diego Zoo knows it too, and shared a beautiful video that will give you a moment of Zen. They shared a video on Tuesday, February 20th of Helen, a Harpy Eagle, flying in and landing in her home at the zoo, and it's spectacular to see.
The video's less than 30 seconds long and was taken in slow motion as Helen flies in for her landing. Her coloring is beautiful, and the patterns that the colors make as she flaps her wings are mesmerizing. You'll feel stress melt away as you watch - make sure your sound is up because the music adds to the relaxation!
What a beautiful reminder to slow down and take a minute for yourself! Helen's a beautiful bird, and I'm so glad @San Diego Zoo shared the moment. I wasn't alone thinking it was just what I needed in my day. Many commenters left messages saying that Helen is beautiful, majestic, and stunning, and she is! I also agreed with @Jenna Ruth who shared, "OK. I'm booking flights right now to see this magnificent bird in person!"
Related: Wildlife Photographer Shares Incredible Video from Alaska with Hundreds of Eagles
Interesting Facts About Harpy Eagles
When @Mrs. Puff asked, "Wow beautiful! How big is her wingspan?" I realized that I'd never even heard of this kind of eagle before, so I did some quick research to learn more. The Zoo did respond to her question, "Their wingspan can reach up to 6.5 feet". I learned they can also grow to be more than 3 feet tall!
Harpy eagles are the largest and most powerful raptors around, bigger even than Bald eagles. They are native to Central and South America, where they're found in rainforests.
Their talons are incredibly strong and can grow to be longer than a grizzly bear's claws, which are about 4 inches long. You definitely don't want to get into a fight with either of them! Speaking of talons, they use them while they hunt and to pick up prey. They are apex predators in the rainforest, and their diet consists of sloths (one of my favorite animals!), monkeys, porcupines, armadillos and even some domestic livestock like chickens and goats when they can find them nearby.
A cool fact about these eagles is how they got their unique name. The name 'Harpy' actually comes from Greek mythology. Harpies were dangerous monsters described as a bird with a human woman’s face. They lived in the Underworld where they were used to torture people! Yikes! But don't worry, Harpies aren't interested in people at all, that is unless you are threatening them or their offspring. So steer clear of their nest and stay far away if you ever are lucky enough to see one in the wild!
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