For most of the 250 years of American history, the bald eagle has been a living embodiment of freedom, strength, and democratic ideals. Images of the revered bird appear on our currency, represent government agencies and the military, and unite us all in good times and bad.

For the last four years, the bald eagle’s power to bring people together has been evident in Pekin on a quiet street overlooking Meyers Lake in the Sunset Hills neighborhood. In 2022, a pair of eagles took up residence high above the beautiful homes off Audubon Drive. Watching them has become a pastime that brings neighbors together to witness a real-life wildlife drama. The story continues to unfold today.

Credit for first spotting the birds goes to Amy Werner. She and her husband, Mark — both avid bird watchers and wildlife lovers — live on a cul-de-sac surrounded by natural beauty right in the middle of the city. Amy noticed the birds of prey flying low near their home late in 2022 and was curious why they would be so far from their usual habitat near the Illinois River.

At about the same time, they started hearing sticks snapping outside and saw the eagles flying to the top of a tall pine tree with load after load of long, thick branches. These were skillfully woven into a massive nest that was clearly visible from the ground.

Mark, a retired account manager for WEEK and HOI TV, knew what was happening, having observed and documented hundreds of bald eagles from a jon boat on the Illinois River during Winter Raptor Counts. He and Amy could hardly believe the good fortune that brought these majestic new neighbors so near.

Bald eagles are fairly common in central Illinois and are often seen along waterways where fish are abundant. Adult eagles can have a wingspan of seven feet or more; a wooden cut-out on the Werner’s porch illustrates the size of the birds in dramatic fashion. Eagles are mature and ready to breed at four or five years. They typically mate for life and return to a successful nest site to raise a family.

In recent decades, the national bird has bounced back from near extinction, though it is still considered a protected and endangered species. Bald eagles range throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

News of the newcomers spread quickly. Before long, neighbors and friends were meeting regularly near an old redbud tree that gave them the perfect vantage point to watch the eagles finish their nest and prepare to start a family. In February 2023 an egg was laid. The eagle couple — along with the earthbound observers — waited more than a month for a small, downy-feathered eaglet to make its appearance.

“This was birdwatching at its best,” Mark said. “The symbol of America right there in our back yard.”

Activity at the nest picked up significantly as the new parents hunted and searched for food for their young one. Using powerful scopes and binoculars, watchers saw fish, small mammals and parts of other animals disappear into the nest to feed the huge appetite of the hatchling. Inedible bits and bones were discarded from the nest. Mark said eagles range for miles to hunt; the river and nearby lakes were likely the source for fish.

Soon, Jerry and Mary Ann Milam, renowned former owners of Golden Voice Recording Company in South Pekin (https://www.facebook.com/GoldenVoiceRecordingCo), were drawn into the circle of friends observing the eagles. Living just across the street from the observation site, Jerry turned his accomplished photographic sights on recording the daily comings and goings and the rapid growth of the eaglet. Thousands of photos now document the eagles at all stages of nesting and eaglet-rearing. Mary Ann made the eagles internet stars by posting Jerry’s photos and documenting their growth on social media.

   Neighborhood gatherings continued under the redbud tree as the baby demanded even more food from its attentive and compliant parents. A vote was taken and the baby eagle was named Redbud in recognition of the watchers’ meeting place. The parents were dubbed Angel and Gabriel. 

      “Watching all of the coming and going by the parents will wear you out,” said Mark. “But you are so in awe you want to see all of it.”

By midsummer Redbud was old enough to leave the nest and begin hunting on its own. Mark said that, like many children, the young eagle was reluctant to leave home. It continued squawking to be fed, but the parents knew it must learn to fend for itself. One day the watchers discovered that Redbud had disappeared, its fate unknown.

But that is not the end of the story. The cycle repeated the next year, with Angel and Gabriel adding to their nest until it was twice the size of the original and had sides five feet high, according to Mark. Another baby appeared in Spring 2024. This one was named Miracle to acknowledge its survival after lightning from a spring storm obliterated another pine tree just a few feet from the nest. Miracle grew and prospered, delighting neighborhood children, adults and social media followers with dramatic take-offs and landings in nearby trees. An oak overhanging the Werners’ drive was one of Miracle’s favorite perches.

The third year was special, with two hatchlings arriving in March 2025. A strong windstorm took down part of the massive nest that had been expanded the year before, but Angel and Gabriel were not deterred. They managed to rebuild in time for the arrival of Martin and Martina, named for a nearby street.

Mark penned an article about the Pekin eagles for the Spring 2025 issue of Illinois Audubon magazine, and society observers came to document the nest and its occupants. Bryan Fox Ellis, local storyteller and editor of Illinois Audubon magazine, donated an Aldo Leopold bench (https://www.aldoleopold.org) to supplement the folding chairs that had served as seating under the red bud tree. The names of eagles born in the treetop are written on the back of the bench (a lightning bolt follows Miracle’s name). Visiting birders and friends are encouraged to add their names on the back, creating a record of observers of all ages.

In mid-February, Angel and Gabriel could once again be seen on their nest incubating one or more eggs — no one knows for sure how many there are until they hatch. Unlike other eagle nests across the country, this one has not been outfitted with a camera to monitor activity day and night. The best observation point is still under the red bud tree.

In collaboration with Mary Ann Milam, Mark has developed an educational program and video that he has shown at the Pekin Library and will present later this spring at the Miller Center. He said interest in the eagles grows every year and he looks forward to celebrating the 250th birthday of the nation with the living symbol of America.