In 1990 the MDC, with the assistance of a member of a volunteer organization called the Bald Eagle Study Group, climbed the tree and installed a nesting platform.  The eagles added additional nesting material to the platform in 1990-1991, but did not successfully incubate.  In 1992 the now mature eagles successfully hatched and fledged two chicks, the first time since the 1950's this species has reproduced in Connecticut!.

Since initial success in the original tree, 11 chicks have successfully fledged from two nests on the Barkhamsted Reservoir.  In 2002 the Barkhamsted eagles abandoned the original tree and built a new nest on the Reservoir.  Another nest on Colebrook Reservoir has fledged 11 chicks since 1999 and in 2003, one chick was fledged from a new nest on Nepaug Reservoir.  In 2004 the Nepaug nest was unsuccessful, but one chick was fledged from the Barkhamsted nest and another two in Colebrook.  To this point, 24 chicks have been hatched on MDC lands and one additional adoptee from Massachusetts fledged.

Raptor Nest Construction Project Beginning from First Successful Hatching

• 1992 - Eagles nest on the platform and successfully hatch two chicks, one male and one female.  With the assistance of MDC staff, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Federal wildlife officials remove the chicks form their nest for ID banding and medical examinations. The chicks are pronounced fit and safely returned to the nest.
• 1993 - Only one chick is hatched and fledged; a second chick is adopted into the nest from a rehabilitator in Massachusetts.
• 1994 - Another male and female chick are hatched and fledged.
• 1995 - One chick is successfully hatched and fledged. The bald eagle study group reports that the original female parent has been replaced by another female.
• 1996 - Nesting is unsuccessful. For unknown reasons, the nest is abandoned just before the projected hatching date. It is suspected that one parent may have died. In the fall another mature eagle is observed with the surviving parent.
• 1996 - One of the original eagles (born in 1992) is observed near Binghamton, New York. The other is observed at the Nepaug Dam in Southbury.
• 1997 - Two chicks are successfully hatched and fledged, one male, one female.
• 1998 - One male chick is hatched and fledged.
• 1999 – Nesting is unsuccessful.
• 2000 - The original nest is again unsuccessful; however, two chicks are fledged in a nest near the Colebrook Reservoir.
• 2001 - Incubation observed in the original nest, but it is then abandoned. A broken egg is found on the ground and the unsuccessful parents are observed attempting to construct another nest nearby (believed to be a 'frustration' nest). The eagle pair at the Colebrook Reservoir successfully fledge three chicks from the nest on MDC property in Massachusetts.
• 2002 - Two eagle chicks, one male and one female, are successfully fledged from a newly built nest in the Barkhamsted Reservoir area. A second adult pair is observed nesting near the Nepaug Reservoir but then the nest is abandoned; however, the nest on MDC property in Massachusetts, near the Colebrook Reservoir is again successful. Two chicks were banded by the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife.
• 2003 - The Nepaug nest is successful for the first time and fledges one large young eagle. The Colebrook Reservoir nest is also successful and fledges two young. In March the pair of eagles at Barkhamsted are seen adding sticks to the alternate nest. Eggs are laid but the nest is abandoned in April.
• 2004 – The Barkhamsted pair fledge one chick and in Colebrook two chicks are successfully fledged, but the Nepaug site is unsuccessful.