Date: 10/29/26 11:53 am From: Andrew Whitacre <akwhitacre...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] THE EAGLE TREE at Mystic Lakes Has Been Cut Down
Thank you for the update as always, Paul. From positive personal experience
I can say this arborist's judgment can be trusted that the tree's removal
was necessary. Hopefully the site is suitable for replanting, with a tree
that in the future can serve the purpose we loved the cottonwood for.
Andrew
On Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 2:38 PM 'PAUL ROBERTS' via Arlington Birds <
<arlingtonbirds...> wrote:
> 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...>
>
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