Life is full of bittersweet moments, such as when children leave a happy home to strike out on their own. Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo, the offspring of California’s internet-famous eagles Jackie and Shadow, are getting ready to do just that.
And the eagle family’s one-million-plus social media followers can watch them fly from the nest for the first time.
This act is known as fledging and can happen anytime after the birds reach 10 to 14 weeks old. The official fledge window for the eaglets started on Tuesday, and fans who love watching the eagles on the live nest web camera operated by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) hope that the eaglets take their sweet time.
At last check on Wednesday afternoon, the live YouTube stream had more than 43,000 viewers.
Let’s take a look at how Sunny and Gizmo got here.
A brief history of the Big Bear bald eaglets
Back in January, Jackie laid a clutch of three eggs for the first time. This rare act was especially exciting because Jackie and Shadow’s eggs haven’t hatched for a couple of seasons. These three eggs went all the way, hatching on March 3, 4, and 8. Sadly, after a big winter storm, it was discovered that one of the chicks had died.
FOBBV held a naming contest in which anyone in the world could suggest a moniker. The names were then voted on by local third, fourth, and fifth graders. The names Sunny and Gizmo were chosen by the kids, while the name Misty was given to the deceased chick by FOBBV to honor the late volunteer Kathi Misterly.
Last month, Sunny and Gizmo discovered how to flap their wings. Being the older sibling, Sunny even got some air before Gizmo. The mischievous youngster got Sunny back by winning a flapping battle in May.
During the second week of May, Jackie and Shadow trusted Gizmo and Sunny enough to leave them “home alone” in the nest overnight. (They didn’t throw a party.)
It is only a matter of time now before these two former fluff balls go all the way.
If you are a gambler, you can enter FOBBV’s contest and take a guess on when that might be. Simply fill out a form on the nonprofit’s website with the time and date that you think each eaglet will take wing. There is no money at stake, but you could win bragging rights and a cool certificate from the organization, so it’s totally worth it.
How can I stream the bald eagle cam live?
You can watch the action at the nest cam’s live YouTube link or via the embedded video below.
What’s next for the Big Bear bald eaglets?
After Sunny and Gizmo take their first flight, they will hang out around Big Bear Lake for a couple of months. They still have much to learn from their parents about being an adult, including how to hunt and fish. They may even return to the nest, but it will take some time to get their wing strength up to par, as the nest is a high flight up a Jeffrey pine tree.
After they are a bit more confident, the world is their oyster. Since they don’t have to worry about rent, bald eagles have a wide range, being seen in areas extending from British Columbia to Yellowstone National Park to Baja California.