BH Airport monitors Chilean eagle with GPS technology

BH Airport monitors the Chilean eagle using GPS

On World Environment Day, BH Airport in Belo Horizonte is highlighting the presence and monitoring of the Chilean eagle, one of South America’s largest birds of prey, with a wingspan exceeding 1.5 metres.

Rare in urban settings, the species is being tracked with GPS technology, supporting responsible wildlife-management measures and biodiversity protection around the airport.

Also known as the mountain eagle, this bird sits at the top of the food chain and plays a crucial part in maintaining the balance of local ecosystems. GPS tracking makes it possible to gather information on its habitat use, movement patterns and behaviour-data that are vital for future conservation and environmental-management strategies.

According to Emerson Chaves, BH Airport’s Infrastructure and Environment Manager, “technology helps us track the species accurately, supporting decisions that promote operational safety and reduce the risk of collisions between birds and aircraft”.

The Chilean eagle was identified through ongoing monitoring carried out by Linha Ambiental, the company responsible for wildlife management at the airport. Following clinical and biological assessments, the bird was fitted with a GPS device and released into an environmentally suitable area.

Chilean eagle: characteristics and distribution

This large predator belongs to the Accipitridae family and is distinguished by its black, white and grey plumage, broad wings and short tail. Adapted for soaring over open and mountainous landscapes, it uses powerful talons to catch prey including small mammals, birds and reptiles. It also assists environmental clean-up by feeding on carcasses.

In Brazil, the species is found chiefly in the South, South-East and Central-West regions, including mountain systems such as the Espinhaço and Mantiqueira ranges.

BH Airport Environmental Analyst Evandro Amato notes that, although the Chilean eagle is not currently threatened, conserving it is essential to safeguarding biodiversity and ecological balance, as apex predators serve as bioindicators of environmental quality.

BH Airport environmental management and wildlife protection

Alongside eagle monitoring, BH Airport manages the Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area (APA), home to karst formations, caves and aquifers that are vital to regional biodiversity and water supply.

The airport protects hundreds of hectares of native vegetation and permanent preservation areas, underlining its commitment to conservation and the sustainable use of the land.

A notable initiative is the Wildlife Underpass beneath the LMG-800 road, which links forest fragments and enables wild animals to cross safely. Since 2023, camera traps have recorded 16 species using the corridor, including the southern tamandua, grey brocket deer, ocelot and capybara, among others.

Over its first two years in operation, the structure helped reduce animal road deaths along the road by around 83%, demonstrating its importance for wildlife protection and maintaining environmental connectivity.

The Wildlife Underpass project earned BH Airport international recognition as a Green Airport from Airports Council International Latin America & Caribbean (ACI-LAC), an award received for the fifth consecutive year.