On Friday afternoon, Shadow flew in with a big fish. As soon as he landed, Jackie could be heard in the distance, claiming her right to that fish…
…but, surprise! Shadow started eating it instead of waiting. And Jackie looked completely shocked when she arrived and Shadow would not let her have her rightful fish. He even snapped at her when she tried to move closer. It seems that Shadow’s rules had kicked into action—he only brings fish for Jackie when there are eggs or chicks in the nest.
Shadow kept eating and Jackie kept whining. She moved away and around to the nest bowl, as if she was focused on other things. But, as soon as Shadow finished his favorite part—he often brings headless fish to Jackie—she moved in gently from the side and took the fish…and this time Shadow let her have it. Maybe she assured him with her whimpers that she is working on creating another egg.
With the fish fiasco behind them, Shadow went back to his never completed task of properly arranging the nest sticks. It is quite fascinating how unruly these sticks must be when Shadow is not there keeping an eye on them so they don’t get out of line. Jackie soon joined in and they moved sticks and aerated the nest bowl, biting fluff into smaller pieces. Then Jackie squatted in the nest bowl, like she was thinking about trying it out, but didn’t quite sit all the way down. She did curl her talons in, though, the way she does when there are eggs to protect.
For the next few hours, Jackie and Shadow stayed around the nest, each leaving at times to return with a new stick to add. After Jackie had brought in her first stick, Shadow left and returned with another one. When that was perfectly arranged, it was apparently reward time…Jackie gave Shadow some sweet beaky kisses. Then they both happily returned to their wooden furniture duties. They each brought 3 new sticks, and of course, fairly divided all the arrangement work evenly between them.
Saturday turned out to be mostly a rest day. Jackie and Shadow each visited in the early afternoon, mostly to hang out and Jackie stayed the longest. They rendezvoused again at the nest in the evening for some tidying up of the nest bowl fluff…and some more of those tender beaky kisses. Jackie seems to be initiating the kisses with Shadow playing a little hard to get. Twice, Shadow stared right into the camera and a bit later, Jackie did the same – maybe they were taking a vote from the audience about the idea trying again!
Whatever they are deciding, they seem to be hanging close together. Jackie watched where Shadow went as he flew off the front porch, and then followed him over to their favorite roost tree. After a long discussion, they snuggled up close together on their limb for the night.
Last night, Jackie arrived first and got a little jumpy after one of those misbehaving nest sticks bit her in the tail. Then Shadow surprised her again when he arrived from the dark. But they both settled down to rearranging fluff and moving a few sticks from the nest bowl back to the outside railing. This time Jackie led the way and Shadow followed her to their favorite snuggling roost tree for the night.
We’ll be watching with excited curiosity for what they might have in store for us next!
Sandy

PS For those who have been asking and for anyone else interested, some of our previously out of stock Bald Eagle Shop items are back in stock, plus we have added some new things, like a new color of sweatshirt, new puzzles, photos and magnets. Check it all out at: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.or... And thank you very much for your support!

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