Timeline

2007: More regional road signs directing visitors to the Eagle Reserve are installed, including in Tversted.

2007: New white-tailed eagle exhibition opens.

2007: Several new eagles are introduced during the spring.

2007: The Eagle Reserve now has four Steller’s sea eagles.

2008: The Eagle Reserve launches a new website. It is the fifth version since the reserve first entered cyberspace.

2008: A new exhibition about the golden eagle opens in the reception building.

2008: A larger selection of Frank Wenzel’s books becomes available for free download on the website as PDF files.

2009: eagleworld.dk prepares for the future with Facebook, YouTube, iPhone, and more. More films—both new and old—are uploaded online.

2009: The bearded vulture arrives at the Eagle Reserve.

2009: The Eagle Reserve participates in an international film project about the white-tailed eagle.

2009: New white-tailed eagle exhibition about nesting sites and surroundings in Norway.

2009: Four white-tailed eagle chicks are born at the Eagle Reserve.

2009: YouTube record — 100,000 people (May 1, 2009) have watched the dramatic Steller’s eagle video.

2010: The Flying Dragon of the Himalayas, also known as the flying dragon from Tibet, is now fully trained.

2010: Black eagle at the Eagle Reserve, African crowned eagle.

2010: The Kings’ Hunting Falcons — new book by Frank Wenzel. No animal has had as much political and historical significance for Denmark as the gyrfalcon. Therefore, Frank Wenzel publishes a book about this beautiful and exceptionally effective hunter.

2010: Falconry is added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. This is an incredibly important and positive recognition that falconry has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The Eagle Reserve near Skagen and the Falconry Yard near Fredensborg were the first and most important contributors in Denmark, as they are the only professional institutions to have held cultural-historical lectures and communicated knowledge about the subject to more than two million visitors over more than 30 years.

IMPORTANT EVENTS 2010–2020

2011: New book by Frank Wenzel: Storm in the Wings. The book is a selection from the life of the Eagle Reserve’s founder and owner, Frank Wenzel, in harmony with wild nature and his beloved birds of prey. It is a book about respecting nature. About understanding that no genuine or useful knowledge of birds of prey can be gained unless you enter their world on their own terms.

2011: Four new exhibitions about the golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, hunting falcons, and UNESCO open at the Eagle Reserve.

2011: The Eagle Reserve’s videos have been downloaded worldwide more than 730,000 times.

2012: The Eagle Reserve’s videos surpass 1.2 million downloads via YouTube.

2012: Baby boom at the Eagle Reserve. Never before have so many falcons been born there. More than 20 falcon chicks hatch.

2013: The Eagle Reserve appears in singer MØ’s music video, viewed more than 7 million times.

2013: A new exhibition room is built beneath the “Eagle Tower.”

2014: New exhibition in development about the language of birds of prey.

2014: Short film about the Eagle Reserve in production, scheduled for release in spring 2014.

2014: New webshop introduced with advanced mobile solutions.

2014: New wheelchair-friendly front area and facilities for visitors with disabilities.

2015: New advanced website for the Eagle Reserve with special integration for social media.

2015: New exhibition in development about the flying universe of birds of prey.

2015: Founder of the Eagle Reserve, Frank Wenzel, lived and died surrounded by birds and family at his base by the dunes and the North Sea. His life was like the western wind — at times harsh and rough, yet full of strength and energy.

He created something truly unique through his rare understanding of nature and lifelong passion for birds of prey, and it continues to live on in the spirit of the place. He himself has flown to higher skies with storm in his wings toward the vast heavens, where we are certain he has become part of the natural force he honored through a lifetime devoted to his beloved birds of prey.

2015: The Eagle Reserve is handed over to Peter Frank Wenzel, Frank Wenzel’s youngest son.

2016: The Eagle Reserve opens the season with a very special exhibition about prehistoric birds, demonstrating the clear connection between dinosaurs and modern birds of prey.

2017: New falconry horse: the Friesian horse named “Sleipner.” In Nordic mythology, Sleipner is Odin’s black stallion. Mythology describes Sleipner as having eight legs and being able to run as fast as the wind and travel equally well through air and land. The name therefore seemed destined for the Eagle Reserve.

2018: New webshop makes ticket ordering easier.

2018: A beautiful Spanish Andalusian horse arrives at the Eagle Reserve.

2018: For the first time, children are allowed to help prepare food for the eagles and falcons at the Eagle Reserve. Participate in butchering deer, hares, and pheasants.

2018: New exhibition about what happens after closing time and new “info caves” are introduced.

2019: The Telegraph, BBC, Reuters, the Washington Post, MSN, Ritzau, newspapers in China, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and many others write about and publish images from the Eagle Reserve’s new condor project. Through this coverage, information about the reserve’s work with birds of prey may have reached more than 500 million people worldwide.

2019: The exhibition is transformed into a time machine where visitors can see, among other things, a reconstruction of Canute IV of Denmark on a falcon hunt with his wife, Edel of Flanders.

IMPORTANT EVENTS 2020–

2020: The Eagle Reserve extends the tourist season with a huge new hall, completed in time for opening day on April 5, 2020.

2020: Guests will soon be able to experience an Andean condor.

2020: The Eagle Reserve celebrates 40 years at the top of Denmark. It becomes a very special year dedicated to nature, featuring initiatives and the largest expansions in the history of the Eagle Reserve. The Wenzel family moved to Northern Jutland in 1976 and set out to open a nature center

2020: The Eagle Reserve makes a strong comeback after the COVID-19 shutdown. This is due to favorable summer excursion weather, private donations, and the strong unity and determination of the staff. It became a fantastic summer during which the reserve recovered the losses from spring. In fact, visitor numbers exceeded those of 2019.

2021: The Eagle Reserve participates in several nationwide interviews, including with Nordjyske, and provides footage for the TV2 program “Gravegruppen.” The program investigates the killings of birds of prey and hunts for those responsible for poisoning them with carbofuran. How can this continue to happen — and who is doing it?!

2021: Extensive renovation of the Eagle Reserve from October 2020 to March 2021. A huge new eagle enclosure is inaugurated, the exhibition building renovated, and a completely new falconer workspace opened.

2021: The Eagle Reserve is featured in a full-page article in Jyllands-Posten with the article “INVESTIGATE ALTERNATIVES TO THE BILLION-DOLLAR ENERGY ISLAND”, primarily due to concerns that too many wind turbines could damage Danish nature and rare birds of prey. The Eagle Reserve also presents possible solutions. Subsequently, Kristeligt Dagblad and Nordjyske publish additional articles about a wind turbine project in Store Vildmose, an important golden eagle area, where the Eagle Reserve shares its perspective.

2021: The Eagle Reserve launches a new falconer apprentice education program — a two-year basic falconry course that can lead to a master falconer education after seven years, modeled after the American falconry system.

2022: There is considerable debate regarding the construction of a Swedish offshore wind farm 20 km from Grenen in Swedish territory. The placement is as far from Sweden’s own west coast as possible and therefore as close to Denmark as possible. The Eagle Reserve describes this as an unprecedented violation of Danish cultural heritage at Grenen and expresses its opinion in a full-page article in Nordjyske, January 2022.

2022: New aviaries for the falcons are completed. They are larger, brighter, and greatly improved in nearly every aspect. Approximately one-third of the Eagle Reserve’s old buildings are demolished and replaced with new birdhouses and aviaries. Over the past six years, extensive renewal work has taken place.

2022: New magazine about the Eagle Reserve released. The exclusive magazine “Eagleworld” No. 1 is published at Easter 2022. Available in the physical shop at the reserve’s information center and café. Forty pages of completely new articles and photographs providing personal insight into the challenges and adventures of the past seven years.

2022: World-famous golfer Marc Hammer visits with SKY News. A fine broadcast of almost four minutes is transmitted to much of the world with an elegant presentation of the Eagle Reserve.

2022: Launch of a new special program in the Condor Hall (the Eagle Reserve’s massive new hall). A special and exclusive four-hour program is presented on December 10, 2022.

2022: Annual report from the Eagle Reserve released.

2023: A huge new eagle enclosure is put into use.

2023: New book by Peter Frank Wenzel: “THE EAGLE HAS LANDED AT SKAGEN.” This book is a tribute to the birds of prey and the natural world surrounding the Eagle Reserve. It was created following countless requests from guests who over the years have visited the reserve and attended the demonstrations. Guests fascinated by the birds, the horses, and the educational storytelling. Through information, understanding, and above all fascination, we can all help secure the survival of these magnificent birds of prey in Danish nature.

2023: The Eagle Reserve café becomes automated. Guests now collect coffee and chocolate themselves from modern vending machines — and prices have become slightly cheaper, inspired by Japan.

2023: Charcoal drawings of birds of prey by Norwegian artist Torstein Aase from Kleppe are displayed in the exhibition during the 2023 season.

2023: A new four-wheel-drive vehicle at the Eagle Reserve helps train eagles and falcons in rough terrain. This time, a Toyota Land Cruiser is chosen, as it has over the past 70 years become the preferred vehicle in difficult landscapes and terrain worldwide.

2023: The Eagle Reserve is honored to host members of the Danish Parliament Presidium and the Faroese Parliament, the Lagting. Peter from the Eagle Reserve personally meets Søren Gade, Karsten Hønge, and Bjørt Samuelsen. Following the official program, they enjoy an informal conversation about the history of the Eagle Reserve and the importance of its conservation efforts.

2023: “NO TO 200-METER-HIGH WIND TURBINES AND GIANT SOLAR FARMS IN THE LOCAL AREA.”
The Eagle Reserve is a unique and important natural area, home to a number of vulnerable species, including many birds of prey. Plans to establish nine 200-meter-high wind turbines and a giant solar installation covering nearly 250 hectares — possibly as early as 2024 — raise concerns about negative impacts on the reserve.

2023: Extensive renovation of the entire Eagle Reserve is completed. During the last two months, roofs, tribunes, and a large falcon section are fully renovated, and wooden structures replaced.

2023/24: New look for the café, transforming it into a modern relaxation area.

2023/24: Annual report from the Eagle Reserve released.

2024

2024: The year begins with nearly all major Danish newspapers publishing glowing full-page reviews of the book “The Eagle Has Landed at Skagen.” Newspapers include Nordjyske, Midtjyllands Avis, Herning Folkeblad, Frederiksborg Amts Avis, JyskeVestkysten, Århus Stiftstidende, Dagbladet Holstebro, Helsingør Dagblad, and many others.

2024: AI technology is now used to analyze images from wildlife cameras and conduct scientific studies.

2024: The large Christmas market on November 16 is a huge success.

2024: A film crew from South Korea visits for an entire day. The broadcast about the Eagle Reserve is shown to 65 million viewers in South Korea.

2024: In accordance with Peter’s father’s wishes, the Eagle Reserve will eventually transition into a foundation to ensure that its mission continues. A solid long-term plan is now in place to ensure the reserve remains a unique place for fascination, learning, and conservation.

2024: Christmas greeting from the Eagle Reserve shares stories about major and minor experiences from the past year.

2025

2025: Work begins on removing the old tribunes, which have served well for 20 years. Within a few months, a completely new large-scale project will be completed — an impressive wooden tribune complex measuring 80 x 10 meters to provide guests with a fantastic experience.

2025: The new nearly 100-meter-long wooden tribunes are ready for the season opening at Easter, welcoming many visitors.

2025: The Eagle Reserve participates in an educational event in Hjørring Metropol.

2025: The Andean condor Molina thrives and is doing well. It has also been observed that its communication with staff has developed in an interesting way.

2025: Emotional scenes unfold between the Steller’s eagle Beringa and Peter as he visits its nest.

2025: The Eagle Reserve’s lake once again becomes the center of a true frog and toad invasion.

2025: Three wolves are spotted in the Eagle Reserve area.

2025: The kingfisher breeds within the Eagle Reserve.

2025: Four new young employees are hired at the Eagle Reserve.

2025: The Eagle Reserve acquires a Philippine scops owl.

2025: A spectacled owl from South America moves into the Eagle Reserve.

2025: Another major complete renovation of the falcon facilities is finished.

2025: Status of the 2025 season: a successful year with increasing numbers of national and international visitors.