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skh4birdies.bsky.social
Balancing life with a passion for raptors 🦅 and others who embrace flight | Nature lover 🦋 | 💙 #LUFC 💛 fanatic | Lifelong good trouble-maker 🦹🏻‍♀️ Avian capers here https://youtube.com/@skhideaways #raptors #birdsofprey #birds
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Gizmo joined Sunny on the attic for the first time. Perhaps they were celebrating their sisterhood. FOBBV's opinion is that Sunny is female, something the eaglets have known all along. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Each day, each moment brings us closer to the time that Sunny and Gizmo will fledge. Here’s a sampling from yesterday of some of the many heartwarming moments we’ve witnessed. Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Eventful night brought all 4 chicks to the ledge for dinner for the first time. It ended with wee Chico roosting on the ledge behind the nest, taking his man-of-the-house duties seriously. Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

No fledge yet, but… a huge milestone for Sunny with a nice hover from the high perch, up and over Gizmo on the front porch, and onto the nest. The exhilaration warranted a little rest afterward.   Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

While we can’t possibly choose a favorite moment with these two, Gizmo using Sunny’s tail as a pillow comes pretty close. In this video, Sunny is 85 days old, Gizmo is 81 days old. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Today's big event was Sunny jumping to the high perch of the front porch. Later, Jackie joined Sunny & Gizmo. It was a special time for this amazing eagle mom and her soon-to-fledge eaglets. Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

In a big day of milestones, Sunny scaled the Y-branch to the attic and on up to the tippy top. The stunning 360-degree view must have been quite the revelation. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Emma threw down the gauntlet when she ventured not only to the top of the nest box, but to the upper ledge with a runway saunter down to say “hello” to Hartley. Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Gizmo decided to join Sunny to see what all the fuss was about on the front porch. She found out there was quite a lot to fuss about. Also, Sunny gave us a majestic horaltic pose. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Sunny and Gizmo's wingers get bigger, they jump higher, and branch further. Each day their independence grows. In their own time, on their own terms, the eaglets spend time together and apart. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

In San Jose, Chico nibbled Emma's band (as well as her talons & leg). Goal unclear, but seemed like he wanted to remove her band. Later, all of the chicks' heads mysteriously disappeared. 😉 Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

At Big Bear, it was a TEN fish day! Maybe Jackie & Shadow don't think Sunny & Gizmo are quite ready to leave the nest (agree!). If they're filled to the brim, they won't feel like flying, right? Courtesy of FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

We often admire the well-behaved manner of falcon chicks at feeding time. This is the other (raptor) side of the story.   Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways #sanjosecityhallfalcons

Chico, the little tiercel, is spunky and ready to do anything his big sisters can do. Making it to the east ledge was a big accomplishment. And he proved himself capable repeatedly. Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Sunny seems poised for the next adventure. Watching the sunset with Jackie on the front porch was another first in successive days of firsts. Fledge watch began a week ago.   Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Knowing that Sunny & Gizmo could fledge any moment, I wanted to capture an entire day of their lives in one video. It won’t keep us from missing them, but we can pretend that it’s 5/19/25 forever. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Sunny took a big developmental step in branching to the front porch. Meanwhile, Gizmo took up sentry duty on the back porch. It was a sign of things to come ~ together, but apart. Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

In San Jose, the milestone of perching on the drain cover is the first of many that come fast & furiously once the chicks reach 3 weeks old. The first Queen of the Drain was as expected.   Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

It looked like Sunny and Gizmo would spend a second night on their own, but either the wind or motherly love blew Jackie back to the nest after dark. She spent much of the night watching her eaglets sleep.   Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA #raptors #birds #baldeagles #skhideaways

In San Jose, Hartley makes clear to Monty that a) she does not approve of unprepared meals being delivered and b) she is in charge of prep and feeding. The chicks will accept anyone with food.   Courtesy San Jose CH Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

As fledge time approaches, we capture special moments for our memory collection. These evening scenes have shown some of the most endearing interactions between Sunny (right) and Gizmo. Courtesy of FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways #fobbv

During Gizmo and Sunny’s p.m. rest, both eaglets were panting in the warm sun. Sunny thought it’d be a good idea to nibble on Gizmo’s tongue. Gizmo wasn’t so sure. Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Two female chicks were on the runway, ready for Hartley when she arrived with dinner. The third female soon joined and finally the wee male. Eventually they returned to the nest for the night (maybe). Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #skhideaways

In San Jose, Hartley & Monty's 4 chicks were banded by the Zeka Glucs, PBRG, and Gavin Emmons, Nat'l Park Service. Their task required unflinching courage as Hartley & Monty defended ferociously. Courtesy San Jose CH Peregrine Falcon Cam #birds #peregrinefalcons #raptors #birdsofprey #skhideaways

Jackie & Shadow came to tuck Sunny & Gizmo in at bedtime, not unusual. But after Shadow left to roost, Jackie cuddled up with the eaglets and tucked herself in. Does she know fledge watch is approaching? Courtesy #FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley #raptors #birds #baldeagles #skhideaways