6-5-2022 Pesky Neighbors

Spirit’s neighbors, Fiona and Fast Freddie, the San Bernardino flying squirrels have been very active the last couple of weeks. One or both of them have been visiting the nest nightly. Spirit is much more tolerant of them than Jackie is. Jackie doesn’t think twice about the mighty wingslap, but Spirit saves those for close encounters! A couple of nights ago when Fiona dared to hop onto Spirit’s front porch, Spirit threw out her best wingslap and Fiona went flying… not sure if she jumped, the wingslap got her or a little of both. Good thing she can glide, it’s 145 feet down to the forest floor! You may have noticed Spirit appears to be gagging, she is actually casting a pellet. A pellet consists of indigestible food… fur, feathers, or nesting materials. Interestingly enough, eagles have very strong stomach acids that can digest bones, this helps them with their own bone formation and the females with egg-shell production. The San Bernardino flying squirrel is a nocturnal critter, me