Date: 3/12/26 12:42 pm From: 'PAUL ROBERTS' via Arlington Birds <arlingtonbirds...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Sad News Regarding Arlington Eagle
I'm sad to report the unexpected death of FAE (Female Adult Eagle), the mate of KZ who for six years has been the territorial male of the Mystic Lakes. The cause of death is unknown. Her body has been recovered by Mass Wildlife and taken to the Wildlife Clinic at Grafton for examination and testing. It could be weeks before results are known. FAE had been KZ's mate since February 2023, following the "recovery/removal" and death of MK, KZ's first mate, from Mt Pleasant Cemetery. FAE was in MK's nest with KZ within hours of MK's capture for treatment and rehabilitation. They bonded and later copulated. It was already late into the local Bald Eagle breeding cycle, with nests usually having eggs between mid-February and mid-March. Late February was very late to begin, but FAE apparently laid eggs as she and KZ appeared to incubate eggs for more than two months without success. Not unexpected. In July 2023 the nest MK and KZ had built on top of an old Red-tailed Hawk's nest in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery crashed to the ground following a soaking rainstorm. The nest, which MK and KZ had expanded every year, had simply grown too large and too heavy for the main supporting branches, which broke crashing the nest to the ground. FAE, whose favorite "break" area had been the pine tree complex where MK and KZ had built their first nest on the western shore of the lower Mystic Lake, decided to build a new nest in the same tree. She and KZ strengthened their bonds as they tore down the unmaintained nest and built a new, improved one together in exactly the same location. FAE was so named because she had not been banded. She had no "history" for us. We have no idea where she was hatched or grew up, and when, but I had the impression that she was very intelligent, very wary of human beings, and possibly had been mated before. Whatever, she was very alert to "eagle events" in the metropolitan area so she was aware when MK had not been flying above the canopy for several days and took advantage of the opportunity. They laid the first egg in late March 2024 and raised three young who hatched about an amazing 14 days apart. The kids were banded and fledged. The smallest, 91/C fledged first, but broke a wing trying to fly back up into the nest. She was recovered and rehabbed by Tufts (Grafton). The other two nestlings fledged but died of unknown causes within 100 yards of the nest. (There was no evidence of rodenticide poisoning being a factor.) In 2025 FAE laid the first egg earlier, around March 8, and fledged three kids successfully. All three were banded, and last month 76/C was photographed on the Concord River in the Lowell area, the first field "report" of any of FAE's kids. FAE seemed "experienced," savvy. KZ and I learned that when FAE incubated overnight she wanted to be relieved within minutes of dawn. Usually the first 5, but at times she would give KZ up to 15 minutes to relieve her before her anger became apparent. Twice she laid 3-egg clutches, and fledged all 6. She made sure EVERYONE got ample food. When the first egg would hatch, she would take only a brief restroom and breakfast break before returning to the nest area and doting over the kid(s). Last year she seemed perturbed on occasions where she would demand that KZ give her the food he had brought in so she could feed each chick properly herself. Fledging 3 chicks a year is well above average, and so was she. I think the last time I saw FAE was Tuesday evening, when she settled into her nest. I was hoping she might be readying to lay her first egg of the season that night or early the next morning. When I went to look for the dawn nest exchange, I did not see her. I saw only KZ posting up near the nest, as though he was checking to see if she wanted relief. I was hoping to see her incubating, so came back twice during the day to check. No luck. I saw a few immature eagles that were looking for free meals from the "ice out" on the lakes, but no confirmed FAE. Then I saw a kettle of six huge, dark birds over the "western ridge." My first thought was Turkey Vultures in early March, but they were all eagles, at least two of which had some white on their heads, but they were extremely high and distant. They probably wouldn't have been seen if I hadn't followed a raven that flew a considerable distance and altitude to harass them. The light was terrible, but they gradually descended. Three continued south while 3 remained around the western ridge. One was KZ, and I thought one might be FAE, a large adult female. Then I saw KZ go into the nest, to the 10 o'clock branch. An apparent adult female stood up and cackled. I thought I saw an Osprey-like stripe on the head like a 3-year-old. She took off and flew towards us. As she lifted off the nest, I saw she was "salt and pepper" on her underwings. The female in the nest with KZ was definitely not FAE. I had not seen any aggression by anyone. I knew what this probably meant. I also noticed a thin terminal darkish tail band on the eagle. KZ followed her up the upper lake. Meanwhile, I lost track of the second larger eagle to the south. I was there at dawn this morning. Before sunrise (there was none visible) two shadows appeared on the 9 o'clock branch of THE eagle tree. KZ and SALT. (Yesterday I tracked her in my notes by a five-letter name that rhymes with witch. ) She had some salt (white feathers exposed) on her back, but not nearly as much as on her underwings and breast/belly. At one point she flew south and perched on the southwest spruce, where she was joined by another subadult female with weak osprey-like eye stripes. Two teenage females looking to move into a beautiful gated community with a wealthy, accomplished territorial male. Ironically, KZ perched not far away. Lower down. In a birch tree on the shore. Then Anna Piccolo noticed something on the ground. Black body with a white head and tail. FAE's body. KZ perched on the black metal fence just a few feet from FAE's remains, as though trying to work his way through what he saw. Talking to neighbors on the shore, they remarked about an adult eagle spending much of yesterday perched in the birch just feet from FAE, but the neighbors did not see the corpse. I felt for KZ. I think FAE probably died very early yesterday morning, and that the news reached the local "eagle network" within hours. I think we may have seen SALT earlier this winter (have to checked my notes and photo inventory), but two 3-4 year old females with Osprey-like eye-stripes had not been regular in the area the past several weeks. It is not yet clear if SALT is KZ's mate of choice, but she is the only one I've seen in the nest with KZ. And perched side by side with him in THE eagle tree just after dawn. Time will tell. They can't waste much time. Maybe there is time for them to bond, copulate frequently, and contribute eggs to the future of the species. Scant time. The odds are not good, as they weren't for KZ and FAE in 2023, but it helped them bond for 2024 and 2025 and produce 6 fledfglings in two years. I think KZ grew in wisdom and in stature with FAE. I'd like to thank Anna Piccolo for sharp spotting of FAE's remains about a half mile away this morning, and Chuck Carney for helping me track and process two hours of intense activity yesterday afternoon. Also thanks to Frank Killoren and especially Jim Renault for their camera work in helping identify and track discrete individuals this winter. I'll post here any information I receive on FAE's necropsy and tests when I receive it. I will really miss FAE. I hope we'll hear favorable reports on her progeny in the near future. (We spotted a juvenile with a burnt orange Mass band on the lakes last week, but we couldn't read the band.) I hope KZ will rebound and enjoy a successful, productive sixth year on the Mystic Lakes with a new mate. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>
