Jackie & Shadow
Wildlife livestreams have become unexpected civic spaces at a time when traditional public life feels thin. The Big Bear Valley eagle cam shows how thousands gather not for argument or entertainment, but to quietly witness two eagles—Jackie and Shadow—build, endure weather, and share a nest. This shared watching turns the nest into a public observatory, a place where strangers practice collective attention. Jackie embodies presence; Shadow shapes meaning through contrast. Their interplay becomes a living chiaroscuro, reminding us that public life depends on both what we illuminate and what we allow to remain still or unseen. These cams create a form of democratic intimacy. They ask nothing, sell nothing, and demand no stance. They simply open a window onto a shared world, transforming a nest into a commons and a camera into a civic instrument. Viewers become a temporary public, connected through quiet observation. Attention can be a civic act: Shared watching rebuilds a sense of public togetherness. Silence has social value: Not all participation requires speech or debate. Contrast reveals meaning: Jackie and Shadow show how presence and absence shape understanding. Commons can be digital: A livestream can function like a public square. Observation fosters stewardship: Seeing nature as shared inheritance encourages care rather than conflict. Continued
As has been tradition since 2020, paint was added to Skaters on Ice—January 1, 2026—beside the ice rink on the quiet back lawns of the Alberta Legislature. An eagle in flight was added on the backside, a gesture of lift in a heavy season.
XLife
Birds of a Feather Art Project
Art is Freedom
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