31 January 2026
Hello Everyone,
I didn’t write. Each of you knows what happened at Big Bear Valley’s Bald Eagle nest of Jackie and Shadow. After having left the eggs uncovered for a number of hours, the Ravens came. Of course, all of us are devastated. I have had more than 100 letters full of sadness from you. Jackie and Shadow hold a very special place in our hearts.
Jackie and Shadow will move forward – and so will we. Will there be a second clutch? We will have to wait and see. For me, I am thankful that at that altitude, with its issues about egg thickness and fertility, we got to enjoy Sunny and Gizmo. If we get an eaglet this year, it is a bonus.
Sue Bruhling has the idea!
At 0823, Jackie was looking down at the shells. It broke my heart. I cannot show you that image because of the restrictions set by the owners of the streaming cam. But keep watching our beloved Big Bear family – and continue to send them the most positive energy. They can surprise us!
How often do Bald Eagles lay a second clutch? Bald Eagles rarely lay a second clutch, doing so only if the first set of eggs is lost early in the season, typically within the first two weeks of incubation. This “replacement” or “double” clutch happens in roughly 3% of total nesting attempts, or about 27% of cases where the first clutch fails. A second clutch is possible only if the first is lost early enough for the female’s hormones to allow a new cycle. Second clutches are usually triggered by early-season nest failure due to predation, human disturbance, or destroyed eggs.
Energy Requirements: The pair must have sufficient food and energy resources to produce a second set of eggs, typically 1 or 2. Jackie and Shadow did just this in 2021 when they lost their first clutch.
Thank you to reader ‘A’ in Japan who sent me the most beautiful images of a hen harrier that they took – and allowed me to share with you. This is that gorgeous raptor that is so persecuted in parts of the UK.
There is an osprey couple incubating at Captiva but not on the Window to Wildlife streaming cam.
Scotland creates the first UK law to have homes install Swift bricks. Don’t know what a swift brick is? Read on.
If you missed it, Harry and Sally have three eggs at Moorings Park osprey platform in Florida.
‘A’ is keeping an eye on our Royal Albatross: “Dad WYL returned from foraging yesterday and immediately fed his chick. Look at that adorable bill and those sweet little pink paddles. Are they not the cutest things you’ve ever seen? Look at that cute little yawn from Plateau Chick? Seriously. It’s even cuter than a hawklet, and you know how I feel about those. Deyani was just the sweetest chick I’ve ever seen – except for these tiny albatross chicks. There is absolutely nothing like them. They grow to such a size, with that immense wingspan, but for now, they’re just like little fluffy toys. These birds are beyond special. Their patient stoicism is awe-inspiring. So incredibly gentle and yet so powerful in their own way. Such solitary birds for so much of their lives, and yet so loving when they do interact with their chicks or partners. They never cease to amaze me.
I read that the departing parent pulls the grass and dumps it over their shoulder as an offering of nesting material to the remaining parent, and that this gesture is an indication of their intention to return. If that is true, it is just one more adorable feature of these wonderful birds. I’m sorry if I’m sounding a little albatross-obsessed, but it’s only because I am. Which reminds me, thank you for the link to the Laysan albatross on Midway Atoll. The sweet chick on the camera is such a woolly little person. Too cute.”
Jack and Jill continue to work on the Achieva Credit Union nest.
I have been told that Owlvira and Hoots have a couple of owlets in their nest.
Owlvira is certainly looking as if she is feeding babies under her!
Little ones at John Bunker Sands are doing well. Lots of ‘bird’ prey on that nest today.
It is warming up for us. Snow is starting to fall, and with the warmer weather, the forecast is for snow on and off through the end of Sunday. We hope the wind will stop. We had a lovely walk with Toby this morning and cleaned up around Brock’s feeding station. Oh, spring, please come early!
Take care of yourselves. See you soon!
Thank you so much to the authors of the posts, the owners of the streaming cams and to ‘A’ for her lovely photos.
Hello Mary Ann. It is very sad about Jackie and Shadows eggs. It has happened before here and at other nests too. and I wish the ravens wouldn’t come and I pray they are able to make a second clutch.
Glad the weather is better there and you’ll are able to take walks. . Today and tomorrow the Arctic air is here.
We are not use to that much wind way down here.
Good luck to all the little chicks and nests with eggs and all our birds.
Have a good weekend and take care !
Prayers for all who need them.
Linda
Ravens and GHOs always hang about – they seem to know before anything happens. I have sadly come to not like the GHOs very much because of the little eaglets and ospreys lost to them.
I’ve been in tears since yesterday, after hearing the sad news from Big Bear. Also wondering, is it possible that Jackie might have a third egg coming for this clutch, or did that window already close? Wishful thinking, I guess.
Thank you as always for all your reports, Mary Ann.
Wishful thinking, perhaps. She could lay another clutch in a month – she needs to rest up. I got a note that they had seen a crack in one of the eggs after carefully examining the footage when Jackie stopped incubating. It is so unusual – Jackie and Shadow are diligent so it made me wonder. But I was terribly sad, like you. It broke my heart – hence while I couldn’t send out the note right away.