4-8-2024 "I Won't Give Up"
Jackie has not sat on the eggs in a few days. But even with Jackie trying every trick in her book to convince him that it’s time to let go, Shadow will not give up sitting on the eggs.
Sunday morning Jackie brought a giant stick in the back door and then maneuvered it all around Shadow, knowing that he would not be able to resist helping with such a whopper. She was right—it got Shadow out of the nest bowl to assist. And Jackie moved to the back porch to watch Shadow work, waiting patiently until he finally left out the front. She watched where he went, to be sure he flew away before she left out the back door…
…but Shadow was back in less than 15 minutes, sitting on the eggs again. Knowing how much he loves his sticks, Jackie tried another one, this time a curly dude…and again it got Shadow up. After a lot of stick work, Shadow finally left out the back. Jackie kept an even more careful eye on where he went before she left.
In the early afternoon she switched it up, bringing a fish, along with lots of soft twerpling. It sounded a bit like begging if anyone might dare to think that Jackie would beg. But this is her adoring partner and she is working every way she knows how to take care of him and his tender heart. Shadow watched Jackie eat most of the fish before he finally left out the back.
But he wasn’t finished…and neither was Jackie. Later in the afternoon, she tried bringing fluff to see if that might be more enticing than the sticks and the fish. Shadow just argued louder. And Jackie continued to patiently speak to him as she moved out to the front porch. Her sweet talk finally coaxed him to join her, but he couldn't resist complaining as he flew away.
Then Shadow was back to spend the night. He must have been sleeping very soundly…Fiona (the flying squirrel) made a late visit to the nest that woke Shadow up. But he was so exhausted from all his nest duty, that it took him over 10 seconds to finally react to Fiona's visit with a wingslap…by then Fiona was long gone.
Monday saw Jackie retrying some of her best maneuvers, but Shadow seemed even more determined to stay put. Jackie first brought another stick...then she snatched the stick Shadow was working on and stretched up with lots of tall effort to get it placed. Even though she worked hard and waited for his reaction, she only got more argument from Shadow.
The next stick got louder argument. But Jackie waited long enough that Shadow reluctantly flew out the front…and still he returned. Jackie’s stick deliveries and waiting were now having no impact…
…so, Shadow spent the night on the nest yet again.
Even though the eggs have been uncovered for over an hour at a time during the day, the ravens have not shown up—a different reaction than in the past.
The ravens and nature, along with Jackie and Shadow, are bringing new surprises to each situation. And even with the surprises, they continue to demonstrate their resilience, determination, patience, dedication to each other…and maybe a little bit of stubbornness for good measure.
Thank you for your patience in watching to see what Jackie and Shadow, with their own unique personalities, have in store for us next!
Sandy
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