Bald Eagles have been seen in the Mystic River watershed for almost twenty years. Primarily during the winter, when eagles from the Canadian Maritimes and northern New England move down the Atlantic coast looking for open water in which to hunt in the depths of winter. As many as 13+ different Bald Eagles (not all at once) have visited the watershed in some winters. But now—we have local Massachusetts-hatched eagles that visit and hunt the watershed throughout the entire year. We know the names and histories of two of these local eagles thanks to the bands on their legs—meet MK and KZ.
MK, a female, was hatched in Waltham, MA in 2016; KZ, male, was hatched in 2015 in Webster, MA. Their “names” are the first two letters of an alphanumeric colored plastic band placed on one of their legs shortly before they left their nest. These two, both of which have largely (but not completely) white heads and tails usually can be seen throughout the entire watershed, including Spy and Horn Pond as well as the Mystic Lakes.
The Mystic River watershed provides plenty of food for eagles year round— primarily fish (.e.g., river herring) but also ducks, geese, cormorants and gulls. In the winter when most ponds and many streams are frozen, the Mystic dam keeps some water open, so some fish and waterfowl are accessible.
By the early 1900s hunting and habitat destruction had eliminated most of the Massachusetts Bald Eagle population—and the use of DDT, a dangerous chemical insecticide, caused the national Bald Eagle population to dramatically decline. This devastating population loss led to our national bird being placed on the federally Endangered Species List in 1967. DDT was banned and Massachusetts began reintroducing and releasing a few young eagle chicks at Quabbin Reservoir in 1982. Thanks to the successful reintroduction efforts across North America and major efforts to protect and restore habitat you can once again find this majestic bird perched in tall roost trees or gliding gracefully along the Mystic River.
“The fact that eagles are regularly seen not only at the Mystic Lakes, but at Blair Pond, Spy Pond and Horn Pond, is a sure sign of the health of the Mystic River Watershed,” said Rick Olick, local birder, photographer, and MyRWA board member.
While we celebrate one of the great conservation success stories of our time, local photographers are skillfully documenting this remarkable homecoming. Paul Roberts, Medford photographer and eagle expert, has been following this return for decades. His first eagle sighting in the Mystic was in 1998—and he saw his first sub-adult eagle in 2002. By 2010, at least 13 unique eagles (not all at one time) had been spotted in our watershed, noted Roberts.
“I think the local presence of Bald Eagles year-round is almost unbelievable. Less than 50 years ago, you would rarely see one anywhere in the state, having to drive to Quabbin Reservoir in winter to barely hope to see one of these magnificent birds. That they now can be seen well in the Mystic River Watershed throughout the year was possible only through tremendous efforts on the part of many individuals and organizations over decades, including the Peregrine Fund, US Fish & Wildlife, Mass Fish & Wildlife, and MyWRA, which has labored to clean up our watershed and restore a healthy environment for wildlife, including eagles, and people,” said Paul Roberts.
This eagle eco-success story is similar to that of the Mystic river-herring. Eagles have made a comeback due to protective policy, habitat restoration and increased water quality (like river herring). Also like the river herring, eagles take several years to reach sexual maturity. River herring reach maturity at 3 years old, while eagles reach sexual maturity at 4 years old. As follows, the population of eagles is expected to increase exponentially as young birds, either born here or who have migrated to the watershed, are old enough to mate.
“As a photographer discovering the beauty of birds, I hoped to photograph the majestic Bald Eagle someday. I never dreamed I would see them in my "backyard. "It reminds one to not take for granted the joy of seeing wildlife thrive and to strive to ensure future generations can enjoy the beauty of nature,” said Ram Subramanian, Arlington photographer.
It is extremely important to exercise caution when watching or photographing eagles. Any birds migrating from more rural areas are sensitive to human presence and will leave if humans focus on them and start to approach them. Never get too close and always let the bird come to you—photographers say, “eventually they will!”
If you’re interested in watching the eagles and learning more about eagle ID, Paul Roberts suggests starting off with The Crossley Raptor ID Guide by Crossley, Liguori and Sullivan. Experienced birders will enjoy the Birds of Prey Field Guide by Brian Wheeler. You’re also invited to join us on a Mystic Lakes winter bird walk, led by Roberts, on February 15th. More info here.
Catherine Pedemonti, MyRWA, and Paul Roberts at the Mystic Lakes dam.
Eagle fun facts:
Eagles are sexually dimorphic—meaning that the females are bigger than the males.. Juveniles are also a little larger than their parents due to long feathers that allow them to fly more easily and extra weight from their parents steady feeding. This makes young female eagles the biggest (and most audacious).
It takes 4 to 7 years for a Bald Eagle to acquire a bright white head and tail, and to start breeding. Juvenile eagles are largely dark brown with whitish “armpits” and older immatures have variably mottled brown and “dirty” white heads, bodies, and tails.
Bald Eagles are social in winter, and might gather in small groups near favorable locations to find food. If an eagle takes prey, other eagles might try to “share it,” especially if the water is largely frozen. Breeding adult Bald Eagles are anti-social, chasing other adults away from their breeding territory.
The eyes of an average Bald Eagle are about the same size as a human’s, but they can see roughly 8 times better than humans.
