JC26 is a cutie pie…Sunday in Bird World

1 March 2026

Toby and I were woken up by the phone pinging and pinging around 2330 Saturday night. It wouldn’t stop. What was going on? Turns out the two-story woodframe house at the corner, home to our neighbour Jim Russell for 27 years, was on fire. It went up in flames so quickly that the fire and police personnel could not get into the structure. We still do not know if our neighbour was in the house at the time. Jim was a brilliant eccentric. He had studied math at Cornell and came to Canada in the late 1960s, as I recall. Paramedics and fire crew are still there as little blazes continue to flare up. I am tired. Toby is tired. We were up til 0300 worrying if Jim was in the house and remembering, with great sadness, our neighbours, Bert and Joanne, who died in a house fire across the street in 2011. They were our dear friends. We bought our house form them and Don helped Bert when Joanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Memories came in like a tsunami.

I know you will understand when I say that this posting will be short.

There have been a lot of rumours about the Bald Eagle nests this season, with the latest one being that Shadow had disappeared. Shadow is fine. It was confirmed that he was on the eggs last evening, even though the posting said he was MIA. Please check the cameras and exercise caution – there are too many ‘alternative facts’ floating around that cause worry and anxiety.

Thank you SK Hideaways for sending me your videos!

SK Hideaways Videos Week of 22 February 2026

Channel Island California Eagles
Livestreamed nests:
~ Fraser Point ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Cruz & Andor
~ Sauces Canyon ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Audacity & Jak
~ Two Harbors ~ Catalina Island ~ Cholyn & Chase
~ West End ~ Catalina Island ~Residents in flux


Fraser Point ~ Cruz & Andor
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s

Cruz Lays 3rd Egg ~ No Muss, No Fuss Once Again (2026 Feb 26)
Cruz rose at 00:42 and laid her third egg at 00:43:28 ~ she wanted to get back to sleep. And sleep she did until she gave us a split-second peek of all three eggs at 06:58. Wishing Princess Cruz and Andor success with this full clutch. 
Video: https://youtu.be/t4C95kIBhbs

Princess Cruz Lays 2nd Egg ~ Quick & Easy (2026 Feb 22)
A very easy labor for Cruz as she laid her second egg. Congratulations, Cruz & Andor!
Video: https://youtu.be/AurPv3UFB1M

Two Harbors ~ Cholyn & Chase
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI

Cholyn Does Bedtime Egg Roll ~ Chortles Wispy Lullaby (2026 Feb 27)
After a day of textbook nest changeovers, Chase retired to his night perch and Cholyn settled in for overnight incubation. After she carefully rolled the two precious eggs, she called out in her unique wispy chortle. Because we’re hopelessly sentimental, we like to think that lovely music was a bedtime lullaby. Whatever it was, it was glorious. 
Cholyn Lays Egg #2 Early and Quickly
Cholyn was a few hours earlier than expected and laid egg #2 quickly and easily.  Congratulations Cholyn & Chase! (2026 Feb 26)
Video: https://youtu.be/5Qnqo5nnXcg

28-Year-Old Cholyn and Chase Welcome 1st Egg of the Season🎉(2026 Feb 24)
In their 23rd season together, 28-year-old Cholyn and Chase welcomed their first egg. Cholyn fooled fans for a few nights before laying this first egg, but, of course, she had her own schedule. Congratulations! 
Video: https://youtu.be/q3g9NCeN04E


FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie & Shadow
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4
Live Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz

Shadow Snortles to Jackie’s Mating Call ~ Obliges Then Brings Fish (2026 Feb 28)
When Jackie called Shadow to the Cactus Snag, he was quick to respond. Turns out it was a mating call. Having taken care of business, Jackie returned to the nest to await her feesh brunch, which Shadow also provided. Together they are a power couple ~ super partners, providers, and parents. 
Video: https://youtu.be/aoE-OV3sUeE

Jackie Delivers Egg #2 of Second Clutch ~ Congrats Jackie & Shadow! (2026 Feb 27)Jackie laid egg #2 of her and Shadow’s second clutch in the early evening. The 4-minute labor brought Jackie’s signature tea kettle sounds and another perfect egg. All good wishes to Jackie and Shadow for success with this second clutch.   
Video: https://youtu.be/FKRbz02gZG0

Jackie Lays Egg #1 of Second Clutch ~ Shadow Checks on Jackie, Meets Egg 🥰(2026 Feb 24)
Jackie and Shadow welcomed the first egg of their second clutch. Wishing them a successful outcome. 
Video: https://youtu.be/2xmOylatUyg


John Bunker Sands Eagles ~ Combine TX ~ Mom, Dad, and JBS24
Courtesy John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Cam
Eagle Tower Camera 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdo7BzUU_g
Eagle Tower Camera 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDb2KqvvyQ

JBS24 is in full Clown Feet and thriving (2026 Feb 26)
At 4-1/2 weeks, JBS24 is shedding some of that natal down, sprouting pin feathers, and sporting some rather impressive clown feet. Great to see this little one doing well and progressing as expected. 
Video: https://youtu.be/wDCEsLT-XTU


San Jose CH Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley and Monty
Hartley & Monty Display Every Courtship Behavior Known to Falcons (2026 Feb 22)
Hartley and Monty are very focused on their upcoming nesting season. They had conversations, mated (twice), and pair bonded in the nest box. Monty provided the piece de resistance when he delivered a food gift, which Hartley happily tugged away from him and flew off. We’ll be looking for eggs in the very near future! 
Video: https://youtu.be/LwwsKn4-vS4
Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam
Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU

At the Winter Park Florida Bald Eagle nest, Peanut (aka Tiny Tim) is anything but tiny. Looks like a ravenous female to me that second hatch that survived some pretty challenging bonking early on. Peanut really took lessons and was doing a grand job of self-feeding on Saturday.

At the Johnson City nest, Baiba caught Boone feeding his little one JC26 for the first time. https://youtu.be/BYRwO0l-qfE?

From all of us – we wish you a great end to the weekend and a wonderful week. I will be back with you on Friday.

Thank you so much to SK Hideaways for sharing their video list, to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures – thank you for allowing us into the lives of these amazing birds.