Highlights
Highlights from the FOBBV YouTube Team: ⬇️ 8/5
* The Big Bear Nest Diaries: The first visitors to the nest this morning were three Mountain Chickadees 🐦. We then saw Shadow on the Cactus 🌵 Snag starting at 7:16, hidden behind the pine needles. After he flew off, 🦅 a Sub-adult perched on Twin Pines for a bit in horaltic pose. Later, a Sub-adult went to Cactus Snag at 11:57 and stayed into the afternoon. Most of the day was pretty calm. Tonight we had some visitors to the nest, a Lodgepole 🐿️ Chipmunk, Mountain Chickadee, and White-breasted Nuthatch. Later at 20:02 we spotted an adult eagle in the Roost Tree. 🌙 Roost Snug Jackie & Shadow, Luna and Sandy, we love you! ♥️
* Quiet Moments: When things feel uncertain, we can find hope in the familiar sights and sounds of the habitat. The sun ☀️ rises and sets each day, painting the sky in a predictable rhythm. The constant chatter of birds 🎶 creating a peaceful symphony. And when Shadow perches nearby, his steady presence and echoing calls offer us comfort and reassurance — a palpable strength helping us navigate the unknown. 💗
* Daily Fun Fact: White-Breasted Nuthatch (WBNU)- “White-breasted Nuthatch” are common sightings on the Big Bear 🪹 Nest, making a “Tooey-tooey-tooey” 🎼 call. To protect their nest, pairs may perform “bill sweeping,” where they rub crushed insects (like 🪲beetles) around the entrance. The chemical secretions are thought to repel predators like squirrels and 🐍 snakes. Males are much bolder when foraging with their mates. The female acts as a “watchdog” allowing the male to spend more time hunting. In winter ❄️ they join forces with Chickadees and Titmice. Nuthatches trust the alarm ⏰ calls of these other birds, which makes them feel safer visiting exposed bird feeders. These birds are monogamous and stay with the same mate ♥️ year-round in the same territory . Traits - Look for a white face, blue-gray back, and black cap (which is often grayer on females). 🪶
📊 Today’s Tallies:
💠Jackie (J): 0 min in nest ❤️🩹
💠Shadow (S): 0 min in nest 🫶
💠Chicks (C): Sandy and Luna were last seen 7/23, and it appears they may have left the valley 🦅 on their grand journey. We wish them both the best on their future adventures. 💕
*only a few events-of-interest are listed