Valentine's Day at dino nests

The big news is Starr of the Trio Eagles nest laid her first egg of this season yesterday afternoon! Amidst some enthusiastic nest decorating help from her mates Valor 1 and Valor 2, lol. Congrats to the mom and dads!

At the Big Bear Eagles nest, Jackie and Shadow's first egg is expected to hatch any day now, and the livestream viewers and camera operators are carefully watching and zooming for a glimpse of a pip on the shell every time one of the parents gets up. A pip is the first little hole a hatching baby bird pecks into the egg shell, after which it varies by species how long it usually takes for the baby to completely break out of the egg. For bald eagles it can take a day (or less, in any case it's pretty quick compared to albatrosses, who apparently can take six whole days to finish hatching!).

Currently both Starr and Jackie are brooding in their nests for the night, beak nuzzled in back feathers as they sleep.

Also, they both got a fish! Valor 2 brought one for Starr (and Valor 1 brought her a stick) a bit before she laid the egg, and Shadow brought one for Jackie. (Warning for both fishes not being quite dead yet, though.)

(edit later to add this pretty shot of Shadow brooding at sunrise:)

 (No pip confirmed yet.)

The Southwest Florida Eagles nest has camera problems right now, it seems, but a fish gift M15 brought Harriet the day before counts. I mean, animals don't care about human holidays, of course, but it's a fun excuse to share observations of cute interactions.

At the Royal Albatross nest, the family had a reunion as mom albatross returned for her brooding shift after foraging for food at sea. Both parents have been quick to get back to their now two-week-old chick recently (their shifts can usually last several days), so there's been preening cuddles more frequently than usual.

Mom and baby about an hour ago (around 6 PM today, time zones are confusing, it's still morning here).