🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Emergent trees are statistically more likely to experience lightning due to their height.
Tall emergent trees favored for nesting are more susceptible to lightning strikes during tropical storms. A direct strike can kill the tree or ignite fire, destroying nests instantly. Because breeding attempts are infrequent, such events carry disproportionate consequences. High placement increases safety from ground predators but elevates electrical risk. Climate variability may intensify storm frequency in the region. Nest tree mortality therefore intersects with broader climate patterns. The eagle’s reproductive success is partially at the mercy of atmospheric forces.
💥 Impact (click to read)
One lightning strike lasting milliseconds can nullify years of territory stability. The vulnerability reflects a trade-off between elevation advantage and exposure hazard. Few species balance parenting at such vertical extremes.
Protecting multiple suitable nest trees within territories may buffer against stochastic events. Climate resilience planning becomes intertwined with species recovery. The Philippine Eagle’s life cycle reveals how environmental volatility compounds extinction risk.
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