INAUGURATION -- VACCINATIONS -- FREEDOM FLYING

"The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history." 

Countdown dates:

Sometime before Jan. 20th:     Lame Duck President reportedly will exit White House.  Moving vans observed .

January 20, 2021 at noon:         President Joseph Biden is inaugurated.

POV 

-- I continue to be constantly amazed at our LDP's supporters and enablers who persist in denying the truth, ignore his words and actions that document his lies for which he must be accountable.   People died!

-- Acts occurred designed to usurp our democratic republic and void "...the most secure election in the history of America" based solely on lies reported as facts that could not be documented for the simple reason that they were untrue!

-- Enablers denying those truths they know but persisting in spreading the lies are even more reprehensible.

-- Inability or unwillingness of LDP's supporters or enablers to recognize violent individuals as domestic terrorists when they were encountered or observed is alarming!

-- Believers of such fallacies and deniers of truth are truly exhibiting cult-like behavior when they cease to be capable of critically thinking, using logic to assess facts, resist doing so by exercising even common sense.

CORONAVIRUS IN SO-CAL

The coronavirus surges on in SoCal.  The first U.S county with over a million residents in Los Angeles County alone have been infected in the past year.   The new highly contagious variant is now here, also.   Hospitals in L.A. County are at the brink of having to adopt triage techniques if infection numbers, need for more beds in ICU increases.  Only now are the possible effects developing from those who ignored safety precautions over the Christmas holidays.  

Our California Governor has declared all those age 65 and older can now begin receiving vaccinations which is occurring in most counties.  Unfortunately,  L.A. County has had a slower roll out of the vaccine and medical personnel are still inoculating health care workers and patients in skilled nursing settings per Phase 1A.

Probably all individuals 75 years and older will begin to be able to receive the vaccination around the beginning of February we were originally told, but the newer Governor's declaration of age 65 and older automatically covers that age group -- once L.A. County moves to Phase 1B, greatly enlarging the group that will all be seeking  a vaccination at the same time.  Where the inoculations will be administered is not yet specified -- possibly in our General Practitioner's office and or other sites TBA.

There is concern now as to whether or not there will be adequate vaccines throughout the United States, including to be able to provide the second vaccine injection at the designated time.  Seems our LDP's administration has lied to the American people saying they had a vaccine supply in reserve for the required second injection when, in fact, it was all distributed earlier.  Apparently the vaccine was factored into current distribution efforts by those receiving it under the erroneous belief the Federal Government had the second injection reserve yet to release.   

Whatever happens, I expect to continue observing safety precautions, including staying at home, for some time to come -- even for a period after I would receive whatever vaccination injections I may eventually be given, whenever.

ENVIRONMENTAL

We're having a Southern California mini-heat wave -- temperatures breaking records across the area into the 80'sF, pushing 90 degrees, in the midst of our very dry winter.  We're so far behind on rain we can only hope the rainy weather predicted for next weekend arrives.  

FREEDOM FLYING -- The U. S. National Symbol -- The American Bald Eagle

I was all set to share exciting news that the Big Bear Bald Eagle pair whose activities I've written about here the past two years were readying to start a family in 2021.  I had virtually visited their nest at Big Bear Lake nestled near the top of a Jeffrey pine tree about 120 feet high off the ground in December 2020.  Cougar Jackie and Shadow I observed affectionately beaking one another as they refurbished their nest with more sticks and a little fluff.  

There is a streaming live action solar powered camera which has been upgraded focused on their infrared lit nest 24/7 so we can view their activities without disturbing the eagles, thanks to the Friends of Big Bear Valley, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the 15-mile valley.  

Needing sone respite from the January 6th D.C. Capitol events, I paid another virtual visit to the Bald Eagle family later that day to discover Jackie had laid an egg.  Their first egg last year was laid in early January, a few days later she laid a second egg, but unlike the previous year, neither hatched later for unknown reasons.

I checked back the next day to see Jackie standing over the nest with the one egg very visible.  She seemed anxious, so referencing the chat I learned from the regular watchers there, Shadow had not yet returned to the nest so did not know they had an egg.  This was worrisome because he wasn't around now to relieve Jackie of egg incubating duties, or even feed her at times.  Ravens and crows could be heard cawing their sounds nearby then quieted.  Jackie flew away briefly only to return, then uttering long loud calls, possibly for Shadow, but there was no response.  Finally, she flew away again.

Soon the Ravens could be heard drawing closer to the nest, eventually entering it when they received no signs of resistance to their presence.  Shortly the dominate Raven began pecking at the egg, eventually penetrating it to consume the contents which the other Raven was finally able to share, too.  Soon after they finished eating, they made a hasty retreat as Jackie returned, saw the egg was gone with only a shell bit left off to one nest side.  

A few days later when I virtually visited again I read Jackie had laid a second egg but it broke when she was in labor.   In another few days Jackie laid a third egg.  Shadow had returned brought her a coot to eat, took turns sitting on the nest to incubate the egg.  This third egg was frequently left exposed by both birds which was thought might be an accepted technique to delay the eggs development.  This can be done up to a point as Jackie was initially thought to have been awaiting formation of a fourth egg which would be a viable second egg in the current nest had she laid one -- but she didn't.   

These Bald Eagles behavior has seemed focused elsewhere for reasons we may never know.  But as time passed both parental birds seemed to stay away more from the nest.  So that last egg was eaten by the ravens, too.  Maybe J & S just decided to forego continuing with this clutch.  The question is, will they try again with another clutch in this nest later this year?  Maybe in February?

Live cam URL:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWEgPK13Ttl

Checking in on Jackie and Shadow periodically will be of special interest to me during this nesting season as the pandemic has me staying safe at home, especially as we're being told to do during this latest infection surge.  Unlike we humans activities hampered by the Covid-19 virus, its variations, these creatures are free as the birds they are to go about their lives as usual.  The mystery of whatever is going on in their world now, seems even they are having to adapt to what appears to be different from their expected routine.