Name him Shadow, warrior dad.
The Large Bear bald eagle on Monday proved his parenting prowess by executing an ideal “wing slap” as a raven swooped in — successfully putting a 6-foot-wide lid over the nest holding his and companion Jackie’s treasured three eggs.
It’s a easy maneuver. And biologist Sandy Steers advised The Instances on Wednesday that it’s one the pair will use when confronted with ravens — one of many largest threats to their younger. A nest of the predators is close by, she stated, and they are often aggressive.
“Jackie and Shadow are at all times on guard for ravens,” stated Steers, the longtime government director of Associates of Large Bear Valley, which operates the 24-hour webcam that information the each day drama of the famed feathered couple.
However the pair are alert to something they assume may pose a hazard. Even Fiona and Quick Freddy.
Steers stated these are the nicknames for a pair of flying squirrels whom they imagine to be neighbors of the eagles within the hovering Jeffrey pine that holds their 5-foot-wide aerie.
“They don’t seem to be a hazard,” Steers stated of the squirrels, “however any intruder … something Jackie hears, she is going to get up and do this wing slap.”
She famous one exception caught on video (see under) when one of many squirrels caught Jackie sleeping and hopscotched throughout her again, ruffling the eagle’s feathers.
Fiona the flying squirrel gave Large Bear bald eagle Jackie a begin final month, in response to the Associates of Large Bear Valley.
Because the pair guard their eggs, 1000’s of followers stay glued to the feed, questioning when the trio may hatch. Having three eggs in a clutch is a rarity for eagles, and the feat has been extensively celebrated.
However prime pipping time is waning. Pipping is when a chick will start pecking its method out of the egg. Pip look ahead to the trio of eggs started Feb. 29, the thirty fifth day after the primary was laid. Steers advised The Instances that, with Jackie’s earlier clutches, “often it’s been Day 38 or 39 when hers have began pipping.” Wednesday is Day 41.
“Lots of people are becoming concerned,” Steers stated, “as a result of we’d have preferred to have seen it by now.”
She is sensible concerning the course of, nonetheless, having monitored the pair since 2015, when the cameras had been put in. About 50% of eagle eggs hatch.
“There’s nonetheless time left,” she stated, “however there’s nothing we will do, so no sense worrying.”
