My Manor

"You said this is a bald eagle? Don't lie to me just because I haven't read much. I've seen pictures of bald eagles. They're supposed to look majestic, not as ugly as this one." Jiang Hai teased the scruffy bird in his hand while speaking to Bell.

"It is a bald eagle—the national bird of the United States," Bell responded with a helpless expression. "Our squadron accidentally shot down a nest before, and this little guy was in it. We returned the nest later, but we were still punished."

Hearing this, Jiang Hai frowned and looked at the small bird in his hands. "Is this really the national bird of the United States?"

"But shouldn't they have migrated by now? Why is there a fledgling still here?" Robbins asked, touching his chin in surprise.

Every country has its own national animal symbol. For example, China is famous for the panda, while in the United States, it's the bald eagle. The bald eagle was officially made the national bird and emblem of the U.S. in 1782. Its status in the country has always been high, similar to how pandas are regarded in China.

Hunting or trading these animals is strictly prohibited. Even destroying their habitats is considered a serious crime. So, hearing that Bell's squadron once knocked down a bald eagle's nest was surprising.

However, Robbins had a point—these birds should have already migrated by this time of year.

While bald eagles nest in rocky cliffs and wooded areas, if they settle near bodies of water, they often become resident birds and stay year-round. But in northern regions, bald eagles usually migrate during the coldest months and don't return until spring.

"So why is there still a nest here? And why is there a chick?" Robbins muttered, puzzled by the unusual situation.

Bald eagles were once on the verge of extinction, though not primarily because of hunting. Their habitats were destroyed due to human activities like logging and overfishing. Additionally, because they sit at the top of the food chain, they often suffered from pesticide poisoning as chemicals accumulated in their bodies.

In 1782, there were about 100,000 bald eagles in the United States. However, by 1963, that number had dwindled to just 417 nesting pairs, largely due to habitat destruction and environmental toxins. Thankfully, conservation efforts helped the population recover, and by 2003, there were over 7,600 nesting pairs. Although that's still far from their original numbers, it was a significant improvement.

Another challenge for the species is their weak reproductive capacity. A bald eagle typically lays only two eggs per year. However, it rarely raises two chicks—usually, the stronger hatchling will kill and eat its weaker sibling. As a result, a healthy pair of bald eagles generally raises just one offspring per year.

"It's likely that this chick hatched first, and before winter came, the two adult birds either migrated or died. After it hatched, it probably ate its sibling to survive," Robbins analyzed thoughtfully, glancing at the little bird in Jiang Hai's hands.

Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow at the chick. "So this little gray guy is a ruthless survivor, huh? Eating its own sibling…"

After a moment of thought, Jiang Hai asked, "Can I keep it?"

Robbins shrugged. "Sure, boss. According to the Washington Convention, it's a first-class protected bird. As long as you don't sell it or harm it, nobody will bother you. But it's best to go to the police station and file a case to make things official."

Hearing that, Jiang Hai grinned. He had no intention of hunting anymore. Instead, he gently tucked the bird into his arms and urged Robbins and Bell to head back.

Just as Robbins had said, there wasn't much excitement in this forest. If Jiang Hai ever wanted to hunt again, he could go to places like Alaska, where hunting trips were more thrilling. For now, his focus was on the bald eagle.

As a wealthy young man, Jiang Hai thought it would be fitting to have a dog and a bird of prey. He already had dogs—now fate had delivered him an eagle.

The group rode their snowmobiles back to Jiang Hai's manor. After handling some other matters on the estate, Jiang Hai and his companions drove into town to visit the police station.

The town's police station handled a wide variety of duties, making its officers appear more capable than city police. However, these officers were much more respectful toward Jiang Hai. After all, they owed him a favor—if not for his mercy, many of them would have lost their jobs.

When Jiang Hai walked in, the officers greeted him enthusiastically. Even the female officer who had interrogated him previously made him a cup of coffee. However, Jiang Hai wasn't a fan of coffee; he preferred beer or milk.

He was here to ask about the adoption process for the bald eagle. The station's director, Morris Smith, personally came out to assist him.

After learning that Jiang Hai had found an abandoned bald eagle in his own forest and wished to adopt it, Director Smith praised Jiang Hai's kindness. Jiang Hai simply smiled, not bothering to say much in return.

The process was straightforward. The police called in experts from the local pet center to give the eagle a physical examination. Apart from mild malnutrition, the chick was healthy. The police station then issued Jiang Hai a license to keep wild animals, ensuring that no one could report him for keeping the eagle.

After finishing all the paperwork, Jiang Hai politely declined Director Smith's dinner invitation and returned home with Robbins and Bell.

Once home, Jiang Hai gave the little eagle a bath. Despite his efforts, the chick still looked scruffy and gray. He fed it premium beef and then, as he had done with his dogs in the past, he pricked his finger and let a drop of his blood fall into the chick's beak.

The chick, initially frightened and trembling, gradually calmed down after consuming Jiang Hai's blood. Its eyes seemed to brighten with a hint of intelligence. After rubbing against Jiang Hai's hand affectionately, it curled up on his bed and fell asleep.

Jiang Hai knew what was happening. The blood was transforming the bird, just as it had transformed his dogs when they first arrived.

After building a cozy nest with hay and old clothes, Jiang Hai gently placed the sleeping eagle inside. Turning around, he saw his two large dogs watching curiously, their mouths open.

"This little guy is part of our family now. Don't bully him!" Jiang Hai warned, patting their heads.

The two dogs tilted their heads, listening, then barked in acknowledgment. Hearing the noise, the little eagle stirred nervously in its nest. Jiang Hai quickly made a shushing gesture to the dogs, calming them down.

Suddenly, a soft "thud" echoed through the room. Jiang Hai turned to see that his waist bag had fallen to the ground. The zipper had come undone slightly, and a small, curious head peeked out from inside.

It was another small creature he had brought back earlier. The little animal glanced around curiously but froze when its gaze landed on Jiang Hai's dog, Xiao Hei. Startled, it retreated into the bag.

Xiao Hei seemed to remember his grudge against this tiny creature. He bared his teeth and took a step closer, growling softly in warning.

"Alright, don't scare the little guy," Jiang Hai scolded, giving Xiao Hei a playful kick. He picked up the waist bag and carefully pulled out its occupant.

But just as he did, the tiny creature suddenly bit him.