Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

My sister mentioned that she thinks that just about every Bald Eagle is a Pisces.  Those dates are from February 19th to March 20th.

Unless with birds, it's when the Mom lays the egg, not when it breaks out of the shell.

Anyone here know anything about Eagle Astrology?  LOL   

[Tinkrbl44]

@Mz iMac 

The photos of two chicks and an egg in the first post  have disappeared.

Can we get them back? 

[Jk9]

@Tinkrbl44 I agree!  Miss those chicks.  It seems that Jackie has decided they aren't ready to fledge.  I think that was a test and a signal to the eaglets that they are expected to fly soon.  Jackie brought in breakfast as usual now, so it appears to me that she knows they aren't quite ready.  Will there be a daily test?

Birds don't think and reason, do they??  (Of course they do!).  If the world just recognized how humans aren't really so different....

[shoekitty]

Some birds are pretty smart, I know crows and jays are the top of the list.  Jays can recall up to 200 places where they bury their cache   They start eating caches with the most time sensitive first.  lol, like bugs and such first, then nuts and stuff. In COVID's, like jays and crows they hide most of their food and gadgets in what they call caches. They may go back right away to eat, but they store up, especially for the seasons. They might hunt all day, bury it. Then go back.  They can sort, and do tasks when taught. Crows are a hoot. Mine come back, call to me for food and even thank me, lol. Some crows and jays have been coming for 8 years or so, brought their family,. , brings family. They know me by sight, and will follow me from end of street ro my house  one even taps at kitchen window when he wants egg lol. 
I imagine eagles are really smart as well. They definatley are more wild than most city crows, and not people oriented.  As it should be.   

when birds here go to fledge, the momma or dad waits near.  Often the fire will fly, and can go to ground.  But it's a flapping drift to ground.  The fledge will stay there for a while scared and a little stunned.  But I make sure they are safe, and in a bit they are gone.  That's it.  They get their wings!!!

[shoekitty]

I found this in an article on bird intelligence.  Environmental literacy council dot org. An environmental literacy council???  Who knew!   The article is so interesting. I learned so much about what they know, can know,and how they think. Eagles are strong, independent ones!!! No wonder the are the symbol of US.  

"Yes, bald eagles are indeed smart, although their intelligence manifests differently than, say, that of a parrot or a crow. While they might not solve complex puzzles like corvids or boast a vast vocabulary like African grey parrots, their intelligence shines through in their hunting strategies, adaptability, and social behaviors. Their ability to learn and adapt to their environment demonstrates a form of intelligence perfectly suited to their role as apex predators. It’s crucial to understand that intelligence in the animal kingdom is diverse and should be judged within the context of each species’ ecological niche and survival needs. They are not just majestic symbols of freedom; they are also intelligent creatures that use a variety of skills to thrive."

[Tinkrbl44]

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@Jk9 wrote:

@Tinkrbl44 I agree!  Miss those chicks.  It seems that Jackie has decided they aren't ready to fledge.  I think that was a test and a signal to the eaglets that they are expected to fly soon.  Jackie brought in breakfast as usual now, so it appears to me that she knows they aren't quite ready.  Will there be a daily test?

Birds don't think and reason, do they??  (Of course they do!).  If the world just recognized how humans aren't really so different....

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@Jk9 

Even if they live in peaceful surroundings, I bet birds, animals, and fish have to make "impromptu survival decisions" all the time. 

[Jk9]

Absolutely!  It always amazes me to watch shows about different species and how they behave, interact and problem solve.  I learn so much and have really enjoyed watching the eagles.  

[Tinkrbl44]

@Mz iMac  @shoekitty  @Jk9  @spumoni99  @SoCal Bred 

2025-05-06

Just like big eagles…

Sunny and Gizmo are adding grown-up eagle skills daily—Gizmo is now an expert at self-feeding, like Sunny. And Sunny is showing other abilities, like solid balancing. Sunday morning, while Gizmo ate, Sunny stood on one leg to pull the other one up for a rest, then did a head tuck behind the wing to take a nap standing up…just like a big eagle.

Sunny impressed Gizmo so much with an adult-like wing stretch yoga pose that Gizmo nibbled Sunny’s wing. Sunny also showed off a fancy airborne hop across the nest…but when Shadow brought a batch of fluff, all priority turned to fluff-spreading.

Sunny seems a bit obsessed with nesting materials, like dad, and even had a tug of war with Shadow…and then a tug-of-war with Gizmo to be in charge of the fluff spreading. Gizmo’s big flapping almost knocked Sunny over while Sunny was fluff focused.

Gizmo and Sunny showed off their giant wingspan reaching nearly across the 6-foot-wide nest and Sunny watched Gizmo’s expert flapping with cockeyed curiosity. They both are now almost as tall as Shadow’s 3-foot height.

When Shadow brought a fish, Sunny claimed it…then Gizmo tried to take it, but couldn’t. Shadow stepped away from the little competition. Gizmo let Sunny eat for a few minutes, but then was able to take the fish…

…Sunny let Gizmo eat for a few minutes, but then took a big chunk of fish back…and swallowed it whole. And then took the remainder piece from Gizmo. When Gizmo tried to take it back, Sunny downed the rest. The disappearing fish threw Gizmo off on the next attempt to steal it, but even with all that, they stayed peaceful with each other.

With family dinner, Jackie ate first (after the secret eating that Shadow had obviously done before delivering dinner). Even with self-feeding skills, Gizmo was happy to accept bites from Mama. Sunny lounged around, so Dad could see the grown-up version. As soon as Shadow flew off, Sunny immediately got up to also be fed by Mama.

Even though they can stand up through it and are fully waterproof, both Sunny and Gizmo were happy to have Mama Jackie in the nest with them during the evening snowstorm—just like baby eagles.

Sandy

[Tinkrbl44]

Does anyone know what the "fluff" is that Shadow keeps bringing to the nest? 

I wonder where he gets it and what it actually is.  

[Tinkrbl44]

@Mz iMac  @shoekitty  @Jk9  @spumoni99  @SoCal Bred 

2025-05-06

Fierce parents defend…

After a light rain and snow fell on Sunday, Jackie and Shadow made certain all crops were full before bedtime. Sunny was the first to comfortably tuck its head in its wing and perch upright through the night, just like Mom and Dad.

But Gizmo seemed a little perplexed about what to do and fell asleep standing, minus the head tuck. Their waterproof feathers and thermal down against their skin kept them warm underneath. The two eaglets woke up a bit damp, but survived the small storm just fine.

Monday morning for the chicks in the nest was not nearly as eventful as their parents, since both Jackie and Shadow dealt with intruders out in the big world. They each fiercely handled being strafed while they perched on two different trees.

First, Jackie was repeatedly mobbed by a single Red-tailed Hawk that came after her while she was perched on the favorite Lookout Snag tree.

Then, a couple of minutes later, Shadow was aggressively mobbed by more than one raven as he perched atop the Headless Tree. Both stayed put and valiantly fought off their attackers by using their body, wings, talons and vocals… way to defend!

By lunchtime, the leftover drizzly rain had ceased and the chicks were nearly dry. They used their time well by practicing wingers while waiting for their first meal of the day. Jackie brought in a small stick, Gizmo worked on hops and Sunny made a first real attempt at branching.

Sunny climbed up onto the back porch to the large branch that is part of the nest tree and tried to grip down with its talons and toes for balance. When Sunny decided to go back, a step down turned into an awkward little slide back into the nest and a slight crash into Gizmo.

It was a good first attempt, although during the descent, Sunny's foot got caught on a stick in the nest. Best then for Sunny to just move that big loose troubling stick across the nest… and so it was.

A couple of intense tug ‘o fish incidents occurred, too, followed by self-feeding sessions by both chicks. There were some special close up captures of our sweet young pair too, as they tracked things outside the nest and played with fluff inside. What a full day it was!

BKind22