Date: 10/29/26 11:38 am From: 'PAUL ROBERTS' via Arlington Birds <arlingtonbirds...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] THE EAGLE TREE at Mystic Lakes Has Been Cut Down
This morning the Medford Boat Club cut down and removed the large tree at the Mystic Lakes dam known variously as "THE Tree," or the EAGLE Tree because resident and visiting eagles and other raptors (and birds) liked to perch there. It was the "pillar" tree of the Mystic Lakes for the territorial bald eagles where they displayed their "ownership" of the lakes, and were often best seen by most of the public without disturbing or threatening the birds in any way. The tree was on Medford Boat Club property, and could pose concerns for the club as to its health and viability. It is not clear at this time if the club had any concern for the welfare of the birds or of the public's ability to see the birds well when perched on their tree. The birds will survive the loss of the tree. They will have to change their behavior. That may put other things in play, including the relationship between KZ and his new "squeeze," Stripe, apparently a four-year-old-female who has not mated before. (Recent behavior suggested a strengthening of what had been questionable bonding behavior between them.) The first territorial pair on the lakes over a decade ago started building a nest on the Forebay and did not use THE TREE for their displays. They quickly abandoned the lakes as their nest site, though they "defended" the lakes as part of their territory and spent most of their time there except for early in the breeding season. (They failed to breed successfully for three years, and abandoned the lakes completely.) KZ and MK selected the lakes as their territory several years later after wintering there and establishing their relationship on the lakes. When an intruder invaded their nest and stole and killed MK's first chick, MK and KZ abandoned their nest on the Mystic Lakes and built a new nest in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, which was the base for their territory though they treated the lakes as part of their territory. (They did not use THE TREE for most displays.) As many know, Eastern Kingbirds have often nested in THE TREE and chased the eagles from that tree so effectively that they rarely perched there from mid-May until July. This year the Kingbirds nested in the eastern cove, but still defended THE TREE as part of their territory. (And taught their progeny to aggressively attack any eagles in THE TREE.) KZ rarely perched there during the summer. Stripe had to learn about the Kingbirds' ownership the hard way. What The Medford Boat Club did today will affect many visitors to the park. The tree will be missed, and many visitors to the Lakes (not just photographers) will likely not see the eagles very frequently or as well as they have. Many of us have lost something valuable today. THE TREE WILL be missed. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>
