Romancing the Sticks at Big Bear… Sunday in Bird World

4 October 2026

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It means the world to me. So many of you have so much experience – I certainly do not feel like I am on this journey alone.

This morning ‘PP’ wrote. I guess I had skipped something! My apologies. So, in a nutshell, this is what happened and is happening (or not) with Donald. I have to always start with Donald has Lewy Body Dementia. He was diagnosed four years ago, but the symptoms had been there for at least 18 months prior as I tried to navigate the medical system here to get a diagnosis. Lewy Body Dementia is very challenging. You might recall that Robin Williams committed suicide. They later discovered he had Lewy Body Dementia during the autopsy. What makes LBD different from the other forms of dementia is that there are not only hallucinations, but there can also be symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Donald had the hallucinations – that was what first alerted me to the fact that ‘something was wrong’. Thankfully, he did not have any symptoms of Parkinson’s. On the 26th of August, he went walking at the St Vital Duck Pond with Ann and then to the Dairy Queen (he loves ice cream). That evening, we walked Toby twice, bringing his total day count to approximately 4.3 km. He was happy, walking, getting up in the middle of the night to toilet and get a drink of water. In other words, he was active, walking, feeding himself, and going to the bathroom. He did not need assistance for anything save for the odd button on his shirt or his jeans.

On 27 August, Donald went to the Emergency Ward at one of our local hospitals with a UTI in an ambulance. You might recall that he had a similar issue at Christmas and was in the hospital for twelve days. They have yet to remove his prostate, and it takes forever to see a specialist; sometimes, it is not a surprise that eight months later he would have another infection that caused him to be anxious. I expected it and wished I had had a nurse come to the house to help, but alas, I didn’t have a letter from his GP, so I couldn’t hire someone. He was very confused when he left the house and was more confused by the lights and noise of the emergency ward. He was disoriented, and I am told he tried to get out of bed and fell, hitting his head, his left eye, his left upper arm and his ribs. I don’t know whether the Emergency staff reviewed his electronic medical file. If they had, they would have seen that he had LBD. So, through either oversight or negligence, they gave him an injection of Haldol to calm him down. It was the wrong drug. Haldol causes catastrophic events that change the lives of someone with LBD (and everyone who cares for them). Today, Donald can’t walk. He can feed himself if he is sitting up in a wheelchair, but not in his hospital bed. Even then, his food has to be cut into small bites and be finger food. He is frustrated because he has to wear diapers. Unlike Alzheimer’s, where memory is literally eaten away, memory is the last to go in LBD patients. His ‘body’ will go first. The Haldol caused him to have acute Parkinson’s tremors, where he shakes from his head to his toes (which are curled under) uncontrollably. Don had a Neuroleptic sensitivity to Haldol, and that is why it is prohibited from being given to patients with LBD.

Neuroleptic sensitivity to Haldol (haloperidol) is an extreme, heightened adverse reaction to antipsychotic medication that often causes severe muscle stiffness, rapid mental decline, and movement problems—frequently seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia. 

What Happens During Sensitivity

• Severe Extrapyramidal Symptoms: Uncontrolled muscle spasms, tremors, rigidity, and a mask-like face occur at standard or even low doses.
• Cognitive Worsening: Rapid confusion, heavy sedation, unresponsiveness, or a sharp drop in mental sharpness.
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): A life-threatening emergency marked by very high fever, unstable blood pressure, heavy sweating, and severe muscle breakdown.

Why It Occurs

• Dopamine Blocking: Haldol strongly blocks dopamine receptors in the brain.
• Pre-existing Vulnerability: Patients with underlying brain degeneration (like Lewy Body Dementia) already lack normal dopamine and acetylcholine levels, causing their nervous systems to collapse when the remaining pathways are blocked. 

Management and Safety

• Contraindication: Typical antipsychotics like Haldol are generally unsafe and contraindicated for people with Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia

I cannot change what happened to Donald. Who would have thought you could go into a hospital with an infection requiring antibiotics and become an invalid? Donald cannot change this anymore than he is responsible for having LBD in the first place. I could spend all my time being angry and fighting a medical malpractice suit only to be so mentally and physically exhausted that I am unable to think clearly – and that is what is needed as we chart a new course on our journey.

I have lots of tips to pass along, but the first one is this: If you suspect that your partner/husband or wife has some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s, you owe it to them to speak to their doctor. Don’t make it a big deal or turn it into a fight in front of them. Believe me, they do not recognise the symptoms! Don thought I really was a man driving our car!!!!!!! There are several reasons that an early diagnosis is preferable – there are treatments to slow the disease so that you have quality time. Secondly, you do not want your person to get a medication that is contraindicated for their diagnosis! I promise you, you do not. It is not being subversive to speak to their doctor; it is caring.

Donald has a little Cavalier stuffy, and he often strokes it like he does Toby. If you have a loved one in hospital, think of a stuffy. They are very much welcome.

Donald doesn’t want me fussing, and Toby and I are settling into a very new normal. Keep us in your thoughts – we will be fine. It is just a time of acute adjustment.

Toby had ‘his treatment’ (for fleas/ticks and then heartworm) yesterday and the day prior and had to wear his little overalls to keep the cats from licking his fur.

Now for something different – and believe me, the birds (along with Toby and The Girls) have a way of comforting us that no one can! SK Hideaways gives us fluffy eyases and as they say, ‘a romance in the making’.

SK Hideaways Videos Week of 27 September 2026

367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Melbourne, Australia ~ F24 & M24, eggs laid 23, 25, 28, 30 August

Courtesy Victorian Peregrine Project | Melbourne 

South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY 

North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4

F24 & M24 WELCOME CHICK #3! While Chick #1 Stays Ready to Eat ~ 2026 Oct 2

Then there were 3 tiny floofs. Food was delivered by the hunting machine, dad M24, within the hour. During this meal, chick 1 ate well, chick 2 napped, and chick 3 got his/her first whiff of food while taking in the big, wide world. When F24 ended the meal and flew off, chick 1 continued reaching for bites just in case.

Video: https://youtu.be/nD45L2iAOtc

CHICK #2 HATCHED ~ #3 ON THE WAY! 2026 Oct 2

F24 welcomed chick #2 to the nest! The pip in egg #3 is as big as #2’s was just a few hours ago. Shouldn’t be long now! M24 is going to have a nice surprise when he returns!

Video: https://youtu.be/M6lxQLnL60M

F24 Juggles Chick, Eggs & Food in Rain ~ Pip 2 Bigger ~ 2026 Oct 2

F24 managed continuous rain, a day-old chick, 3 unhatched eggs, and a full pantry. She managed it all like the pro she is. Keeping her offspring safe and warm, keeping food close at beak, and waiting till there was a break in the weather to feed her chick. 

Video: https://youtu.be/6DwrNxx7UXo

Chick #1 Meets Dad and Gets a Good First Meal ~ 2026 Oct 1

It was a big day for #1. Hatching and enjoying their first meal ever just hours apart. F24 gave M24 explicit instructions before departing and seeing he’s a pro dad, he aced the assignment (though he does seem to enjoy incubation more than the combo incubation/brooding task). F24 returned with the chick’s meal and the little one did very well before falling into the requisite food coma. 

Video: https://youtu.be/1jYdoRAokOI

PIP, HATCH HURRAY! 🥳 F24 & M24 WELCOME CHICK #1 ~ 2026 Oct 1

Chick #1 made quick work of zipping out of its shell, showing itself at 6:46:53 a.m. M24 offered to help out shortly after, but F24 declined. Congrats, F24 and M24! We should see at least #2 later today.

Video: https://youtu.be/mU4cnjeAd0c

FOBBVCAM Eagles  ~  Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Shadow (12 years), Jackie (dec. 10 August 2026), KD-1 (Kaydee 4, years), Sandy, and Luna (last seen on camera 23 July 2023)

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/4wGjwVg

After Minor Collision, Shadow & Kaydee Get Comfy Together in Nest ~ 2026 Oct 2

Shadow and Kaydee met on the Cactus Snag before dual flying to the nest tree. Their arrival was a little rough with Kaydee a bit too close, causing a minor collision. But all was well as they got to work shuffling a few sticks, sharing a couple of beakies, and then departing to the roost tree for the night. They sang a lovely chortle-snorkel lullaby as dusk became night.

Video: https://youtu.be/aK0UC65hD70

Shadow Keeps Visiting Bald Eagle from Disturbing Kaydee’s Breakfish ~ 2026 Sep 27

Shadow and Kaydee had their usual morning chortles, a quick nest visit, and survey of the habitat. Kaydee caught a whopper and brought it to Twin Pines to enjoy, but there was a visiting bald eagle who thought her fish looked quite tasty and tried to land on the tree. Shadow and Kaydee voiced their opposition immediately and the visitor flew off. Shadow then kept an eye on the area and Kaydee as she enjoyed her breakfish. She ate every single morsel.
Video: https://youtu.be/hbkKN7PNLh0

SW Florida’s streaming cams are now operating and M15 has a new female. Here is the camera link: https://www.youtube.com/live/BbDdI0MDMl8?

This might be why they are not on camera:

Mum normally returns to John Bunker Sands Eagle tower nest in September. Is this her in the rain last night?

I can hear eagles calling but I cannot see them Sunday afternoon at JBSW.

I haven’t seen Ron or Rose at Dade County today so far.

Gabby and Beau seem to be absent today, also.

What is the use of a scarecrow? Have a read!

Floating scarecrows: how Cornish fishers are stopping seabirds drowning in their netshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/01/scarecrows-cornish-fishers-stop-seabirds-drowning-in-nets?CMP=share_btn_url

I don’t want to leave you without a smile on your face. Just look at Snow!

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care, everyone.

Thank you to SK Hideaways, as always, for their great videos!!!!!!!! To everyone who posted information and images on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams. We are so thankful you let us watch these amazing creatures and to The Guardian, we are grateful for your wildlife news coverage.