Live Eagle Cam — Big Bear, California

GNTLGNT

....hopefully they're replacing Gary Cole......

spideyman

Sensitive Shadow…

Yesterday morning, Shadow returned to the nest to discover that the eggs were no longer there. He looked confused and concerned about this and stared at the nest bowl for long minutes. He looked around the nest, searching, but found nothing. He stayed for about 10 minutes, without any of his usual stick rearranging. He seemed to be trying to process this new situation. Then he flew off to one of the nearby perch trees where Jackie was sitting.

At the perch tree, instead of joining Jackie near the top, Shadow tucked himself into a lower part of the tree. Jackie climbed down to him and they spent a few minutes being quietly close. It looked like Jackie understood his sadness and spent time consoling him. Both of them have shown this same behavior in the past when something unexpected happened with the eggs. Jackie seems be better at accepting the sad situations more quickly and being able to move on. And she appears to be aware that Shadow cannot and works to assist him with his process of coming to acceptance.

In the afternoon, Shadow returned to the nest. He checked the nest bowl again, just in case anything might have changed. He gently moved a little stick and some fluff in the nest bowl, trying to return to a bit of his normal routine. But he could not do more. He stayed at the nest for over two hours, just staring and watching the surroundings of the nest tree.

For anyone who has not seen the past couple posts, Jackie and Shadow, with Jackie’s encouragement, realized that these current eggs were not going to hatch. They left the eggs unattended for two days and the local ravens found them and ate them, cleaning up the nest completely. Yesterday was Shadow’s first visit back to the nest since that happened.

Yes, animals do have emotions. We do not know if they are similar to ours, but in situations that we would call an ‘emotional moment,’ their behavior changes completely from their normal activities. In every ‘normal’ day, Shadow cannot resist bringing sticks or checking and rearranging the sticks already in the nest—today, he could not get himself to do more than trying to move one tiny stick in the nest bowl even though he spent hours at the nest. Jackie and Shadow are definitely processing something in a different way than they had been and not simply moving on to normal daily activities. Just like when your dog leaps up or wags his tail to greet you, their behavior changes according to the situation. Only they can know exactly what is going on inside them.

For those of you feeling sad about the eggs, please allow the sadness, allow whatever you are feeling. It will pass, just like it will for Jackie and Shadow. And we will all move on to watch and see what we will get to observe and learn next.

Sandy

Hedda Gabler

Lovely write-up.

spideyman

3/12/23

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

12h  · 

A noisy day, then quiet bonding…

The past few days, even though Jackie and Shadow have not spent much time at the nest, they have been hanging out in the nest area, using all of their favorite perch trees.

Thursday afternoon, when Shadow brought lunch to the nest, Jackie was hot on his tail. They were apparently working from different understandings of the situation. Jackie, as usual, loudly demanded that all food coming to the nest is hers. After all, she lays the eggs. Shadow, however, apparently decided that since there are no eggs, he would keep the lunch for himself. Lots of noisy arguing, a little tug-of-war…and then Jackie took the coot. She is over 30% bigger than Shadow and weighs more, so if she is serious enough about the food, she can get it.

After chowing down, Jackie was hanging out on her favorite perch tree, when a sub-adult landed on the same tree. Jackie chortled at it and slapped her wings, announcing that she was not pleased to have it there. The other eagle moved farther away from Jackie but stayed on that same tree for almost 10 minutes.

Shadow was apparently perched somewhere nearby, keeping an eye on the situation. When the sub-adult flew, Shadow zipped after it toward the nest. And Jackie took off to help.

Shadow chased that intruder right past the nest before flying in to stand guard. He shouted that intruder away, and even moved a small stick in the nest, laying full claim.

When the visitor landed in nearby perch tree, Shadow and Jackie continued to shout at it from both directions, telling it to vacate their territory. It watched back and forth, keeping an eye on each of them.

Shadow stayed in the nest, guarding until long after that visiting sub-adult decided that leaving the area might be a good idea.

After all their daily activities, Jackie and Shadow often rendezvous at their favorite look-out snag for some quiet togetherness before heading off to roost. Whatever arguments might have taken place earlier get set aside before bedtime.

Little note--The sound heard in the background on the nest camera is the rushing water of a nearby seasonal stream being filled with all the recent rain and melting snow.

– There has been lots of speculation that this visiting sub-adult was Spirit, Jackie and Shadow’s chick from last year. The markings on the visitor show it to be at least 2 and maybe 3 years old, so as much as we would all like it to be, it was definitely not Spirit.

REMINDER: Jackie and Shadow and their nest will be featured on the TV show NCIS on CBS on Monday night, March 13, at 9 pm. For anyone who might not be able to watch at that time, CBS puts each of their episodes up on their website after they have aired--https://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/ --and they are free to view for 2 or 3 weeks. Enjoy!

Sandy

Hedda Gabler

Tell me if you watch Spidey. I’m going to try to catch it or the replay but that’s pretty iffy. 

spideyman

Hedda Gabler said:

Tell me if you watch Spidey. I’m going to try to catch it or the replay but that’s pretty iffy. 

Throughout the episode  some fun office banter as McGee and Torres get hooked on watching a live-stream of a bald eagle.  Both have the app of notifications each time something new happens. We see the nest and eggs with concerns 3 hours no parent. McGee invokes the "butterfly effect"of positive energy. Next the parents are at nest on eggs. At end of show, the nest is shown with baby eaglets ( which I assume from cam from another season).

Hedda Gabler

Oh, that sounds good. 

Did you see Jackie and Shadow back on the nest housecleaning tonight? Moving sticks around, tidying the bowl? I think she’s going to lay another clutch. 

spideyman

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

4h  · 

Step by exciting step…

Over the past few days, Jackie and Shadow have been moving more and more back into nesting behavior…and even getting a little frisky…especially Jackie.

They started with sitting for a while very close together, just watching the scenery…then two days ago, Jackie kept following Shadow as he moved down the branches of one of their favorite perch trees. Each time she got next to him, she laid down flat—perhaps an invitation to get on top? Shadow, however, seemed to be not quite ready, possibly still recovering from his sadness. He kept moving away…but, Jackie persisted. And finally, he accepted her invitation. There was lots of wing flapping and tail swishing…but apparently no completion since they didn’t vocalize about it.

The next day, they flew in within seconds of each other to meet on their lookout perch. This time Shadow was completely…and literally…onboard. Before the camera zoomed in to find them snuggled together, there was lots of flapping and mating vocalizations, announcing their love-making to the neighborhood.

Next in their progression, Shadow brought a giant stick to the nest and gently returned to his usual obsession of getting every stick into exactly the right spot. Later, Jackie and Shadow visited the nest together and stayed a long time with both of them arranging sticks, softening the nest bowl material and doing lots of snuggly bumping into each other. During this work, Jackie had her talons tucked under, an action they do during nesting mode, to keep from harming any eggs or chicks that might be in the nest.

The following morning, Shadow brought a big fish to the nest to have lunch ‘at home’—they only bring food to the nest during nesting season. Unfortunately, he was chased all the way home by a visiting sub-adult. But Shadow loudly defended his catch. He squealed that sub-adult out of the area and was able to enjoy his meal in peace.

Later that same morning, Jackie and Shadow worked together to find just the right place for the big stick Shadow brought in. Then they did joint nest restorations and furniture arranging for nearly an hour…

…and finally, came a giant leap forward…Shadow took the bold move of sitting down in the nest bowl to test whether it is ready for use.

All of these actions are saying that both Jackie and Shadow still consider themselves to be in nesting mode. Little-by-little, we will watch to see what might happen next.

…

Jackie and Shadow had a beautiful TV show debut on Monday evening on NCIS. If you missed it, you can catch the episode “Butterfly Effect” (free for the next couple weeks) on the CBS website: https://www.cbs.com/.../PL1EYk7th6tJlu_Qstrq9w4pWtF1wm0M/ .

For anyone outside the US, the show will most likely be aired at a later date, depending on which country you are in. If you will please let us know in the comments below which country you are watching from, the producer has offered to check for air dates by country and we will post those for you. You can also find the show and episode on Paramount+ streaming service.

Thank you to all of you for adoring Jackie and Shadow as much as we do! We can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Sandy

Hedda Gabler

Spidey, are you seeing any info on how much longer before the little E’s fly? I’m not sure how old they are or how old they need to be. 

spideyman

E21 branched this morning at approx 9:15AM

spideyman

 The official both feet completely on branch
Congratulations E21 at 11:45:59. Official Branch to the spike proper, finally letting go of the spike extension and moving up! Go Go Go! 

E21 is 71 days 15 hours
E22 is  69 days 07 hours

spideyman

It is to be noted this nest has only one  parent M15 feeding himself as well as  feeding, caring and protecting the young.  He has done a miraculous job thus far. Owl intruders as well as other eagles are a constant issue. The norms are off the books.

Here is more info Hedda:

A pre-fledge milestone is an activity called branching when the eaglet takes short hops/flights to branches within the nest tree. The young eagles normally branch for up to 7-10 days before fledge, exercising theirs wings and legs, taking short flights to branches in the nest tree. At ten-to-twelve weeks of age, the eaglet is physically ready to fly. Most eaglets fledge around 12 weeks. The timing of actual fledging can be influenced by human activity or disturbance around the nest, causing a premature fledge. This can result in injury or even death of the eaglet. Premature fledglings that fall to the ground can be successfully raised there for a short period by the parents, although predators and humans can pose threats to survival. This developmental stage of newly flighted eaglets can be a most perilous time.

From twelve-sixteen weeks, the young eagles hone flight and landing skills, and experience hunting and foraging on their own for the first time. Juveniles have poor skills at this early stage, so they depend on their parents for food. Most eaglets will still return to the nest tree for food deliveries and rest, although they spend the day flying and hunting throughout the adults’ home range. Adult eagles will continue to provide food to their young at this age, as they encourage them to become self-reliant. The young eagles may scavenge roadkill on their own since hunting proficiency takes several months.

When the juvenile eagles are seventeen to twenty-three weeks old, they are self-sufficient and wander away from the nesting territory. Florida juveniles tend to migrate northward after the nesting cycle is completed, although some family groups remain together over the summer months and other young eagles join congregations of juvenile/subadult birds around large lakes or landfills.

spideyman

Video of official branching

Hedda Gabler

spideyman said:

It is to be noted this nest has only one  parent M15 feeding himself as well as  feeding, caring and protecting the young.  He has done a miraculous job thus far. Owl intruders as well as other eagles are a constant issue. The norms are off the books.

Here is more info Hedda:

A pre-fledge milestone is an activity called branching when the eaglet takes short hops/flights to branches within the nest tree. The young eagles normally branch for up to 7-10 days before fledge, exercising theirs wings and legs, taking short flights to branches in the nest tree. At ten-to-twelve weeks of age, the eaglet is physically ready to fly. Most eaglets fledge around 12 weeks. The timing of actual fledging can be influenced by human activity or disturbance around the nest, causing a premature fledge. This can result in injury or even death of the eaglet. Premature fledglings that fall to the ground can be successfully raised there for a short period by the parents, although predators and humans can pose threats to survival. This developmental stage of newly flighted eaglets can be a most perilous time.

From twelve-sixteen weeks, the young eagles hone flight and landing skills, and experience hunting and foraging on their own for the first time. Juveniles have poor skills at this early stage, so they depend on their parents for food. Most eaglets will still return to the nest tree for food deliveries and rest, although they spend the day flying and hunting throughout the adults’ home range. Adult eagles will continue to provide food to their young at this age, as they encourage them to become self-reliant. The young eagles may scavenge roadkill on their own since hunting proficiency takes several months.

When the juvenile eagles are seventeen to twenty-three weeks old, they are self-sufficient and wander away from the nesting territory. Florida juveniles tend to migrate northward after the nesting cycle is completed, although some family groups remain together over the summer months and other young eagles join congregations of juvenile/subadult birds around large lakes or landfills.

Great information. Thank you. 

FlakeNoir

spideyman said:

Video of official branching

Oh my goodness, my heart was in my throat the whole time. 😳 I wonder if E was close by crapping himself, possibly literally?😬
Thank you Spidey and thank you Deejers for asking all the right questions. 
I don't have the same free time I used to, but I'm keeping up with these families via your discussions.  💜

spideyman

Big Bear Lake --Jackie and Shadow refurbishing the nest and viewing their kingdom.

spideyman

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

10h  · 

Fluff, fluff…more fluff…and the test…

Shadow and Jackie visited the nest several times in the past few days…and Shadow especially has been focused on filling that nest bowl up with fluff—“fluff” is anything smaller and flimsier than a stick that makes a warm, soft cushion in the bottom of the nest bowl. Usually, is it pine needles or grasses and weeds, moss or sea grass from along the shoreline. The amount of fluff they have now is the most they've usually had spread into the bottom of the nest without eggs or chicks being there. In just two days, Shadow brought four bunches of fluff, and Jackie, not to be left out, brought one of her own. And they both did lots of work rearranging all of it in the nest bowl, sometimes making sure even a single blade of grass is placed just right.

At one point, Shadow brought a big stick…but, oops…the stick got stuck on the front porch side of the nest and he did a bit of a crash landing. As always, nothing upsets him for more than a couple seconds, as he picked himself up and hopped into the nest to go back to work…too bad about losing his big stick, though.

With all the time they’ve been spending at the nest, they had time for a mid-day break and some camera closeups as they posed on the front porch. Shadow can only stand around for a short time when he’s working, so he flew off to keep busy while Jackie enjoyed the scenery for a few more minutes.

In the evening, they were both back again to work hard making more rearrangements of sticks and fluff. And when it felt just right, Jackie laid down in the nest bowl to try it out. Apparently, it wasn’t quite soft enough—she moved a few blades of grass before heading out the back door toward the nearby roost tree. Shadow fairly soon headed out the same direction—time for a little rest to get ready for another day of hard work.

Sandy

spideyman

spideyman

Beautiful nest a day ago:


Nest today and more snow coming.

spideyman

Florida Eaglets E21 and E22 March 21

spideyman

E22 officially branches.  Way to go...



E22 Officially branched to the spike 3/21/2023 at 17:04:34 (5:04:34 pm) at 73 days old,

Hedda Gabler

E22 is going to go any day now. He is hoppin’ and flappin’ all over that nest. 

The Big Bear nest— they are getting hammered with weather. 

spideyman

Owl strike last night

spideyman

spideyman

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

17h  · 

Days full of activity…

Jackie and Shadow visited the nest several times a day for the past few days, bringing sticks and more sticks, fluff and more fluff and then even more fluff, and occasionally a home-caught lunch. Sometimes Shadow delivered the lunch to Jackie. If she didn’t show up right away, he ate it himself.

They rearranged sticks in every part of the nest. They spread and smoothed all the soft fluff in the nest bowl.

And after so much work, Jackie took a nice turn sitting in the bowl to try out the fit. When her sit was a bit interrupted by Shadow bringing a big stick, they did more arranging…then Shadow took his turn sitting.

They also did lots of beaky kissing in the nest…and matey mating on their favorite perch tree. One of their mating sessions was carefully observed by a 2 or 3-year-old sub-adult bald eagle as he sat below them on the same tree.

They roosted together in the nearby roost tree. And while they were out for the night, Fiona (the San Bernardino flying squirrel) visited each night, checking the nest for whatever leftovers she might find.

When Jackie arrived before dawn one morning, Fiona could be heard yelling at her from below—apparently, she didn’t like the eagles showing up during what she considers to be her fair and square time to have the nest to herself.

After days full of visits and activity…today, freezing winds and heavy snowfall filled the nest. Jackie and Shadow chortled about it from nearby, but stayed tucked in and out of the weather.