Kaydee landed in the Big Bear nest and immediately went to work on the sticks. Shadow watched from nearby, but when she turned her attention to him, things got beaky.
After days of nest visits, close roosts, preening and morning duets, Shadow and Kaydee have reached a new point. A raptor biologist who helped band Kaydee now says the Big Bear eagles appear to be forming a pair bond.
KD1 returned beneath the Big Bear nest for a second straight day, but the most intriguing moment came after sunset when KD1 and Shadow settled into the same roost tree.
Shadow returned to the Big Bear nest after three weeks, and KD1 followed him in. Then one gentle moment changed the feeling of the entire visit.
Jackie, Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle and Shadow’s longtime mate, died August 10 after more than three weeks of intensive care. Her life leaves a legacy far beyond the nest.