by Gary Sater and Paul Ludden (Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Board Members)
As many of you know, the eagle’s nest in Pheasant Branch Conservancy was lost during an intense, very windy thunderstorm on June 26 this past summer. (Fig. 1)
The story of this eagle homestead and how we came to watch their family grow was documented last March in our Reflections publication. Between 2019 and 2025, we were fortunate to have an excellent line of sight from the West trail of the Conservancy, which was enhanced two years ago when Kevin Munson donated a spotting scope for the viewing platform. Summer came and went with some good news: This year’s eaglet, who had fledged before the storm, has been seen in the Conservancy since the loss of the nest, along with both adult eagles.
But there’s more!
Since the fall of the eagle’s nest, Paul Ludden has been working with Kevin Munson (Friends member and photographer), Gary Sater (Board member and Restoration and Management Committee Co-chair), Kevin Short (City of Middleton Assistant Director of Field Services), and Alder Lisa Janairo to explore the possibility of erecting a utility pole with a platform on top as a possible new nest for the eagles. Kevin Munson also made a deep dive into the regulations regarding the protection of Eagle habitat.
And more! The eagle pair decided not to wait for us…
They have been observed flying about the Conservancy carrying sticks that suggest new homesteading activity (Fig. 2). Recently, an excellent, albeit distant, spot has been found to view their new home. It is on the trail heading to the top of Pheasant Branch Hill and is about three-quarters of a mile from the nest. If you look directly south using either good binoculars, a spotting scope, or a powerful telephoto lens (I was using a 1000mm lens for the picture below Fig. 3), you’ll be able to observe the eagle family. If the Parks department allows, the spot on the trail from which to view the nest will be marked with an orange cone.
We mustn’t attempt to view the nest from any off-trail site, as we are now in a period when eagles would be most inclined to abandon the nest if humans were stalking the area. Also, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act precludes the use of the machinery that would be necessary to construct a viewing platform in that region of the forest holding the new nest. Furthermore, the elevated platform would need to be at least a mile from the new nest, as eagle pairs are known to defend their territory if nests are too close together.
The Friends are very grateful to all who have contributed time and effort to explore the possibilities of providing a new home for the nesting eagle pairs. We have been fortunate to be touched by the return of the eagles, who have enriched our neighborhood providing us with glimpses of their everyday lives . . . many more eaglets are in our future!