Latest news with #BigBearLake
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sister act: Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo are both female
After nearly three months of speculation, the experts have weighed in: Both eaglets at the Big Bear bald eagle nest are female. Sunny and Gizmo are sisters, according to the organizations that operates the world-famous 24-hour camera feed of the nest near Big Bear Lake. "Peaceful, loving sisters," added Friends of Big Bear Valley Executive Director Sandy Steers. The naturalists announced last week that Gizmo was believed to be female, but Sunny's sex remained unclear until Saturday. "After much observation and some fairly definitive vocal frequency analysis, we believe that even though Sunny, as the older one, is now smaller than Gizmo, she is also female," Steers said in an update posted to social media. Despite being four days younger, Gizmo has outgrown Sunny in size. Although now the smaller of the siblings, Sunny has led the way when it comes to exploring the branches surrounding the nest and experimenting with flight. More: Fledge watch: Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo prepare to take first flights She was seen taking to the air for a 3-second-long hover above the nest for the first time on Thursday. Her flight testing grew bolder and Friday, when she was again spotted hovering above the nest and spreading her wings into the wind. Bald eaglets generally leave the nest, or fledge, at 10 to 14 weeks of age, experts said. At 12 weeks old, Sunny and Gizmo could each be ready to make their first flights away from the nest any time now. But they won't immediately become strangers. Eaglets tend to remain close to their nests for a month or two as they develop the skills they will need to survive on their own. They young predators will then head out to establish their own homes, potentially hundreds or thousands of miles away from Big Bear. They still have a long journey ahead of them, as bald eagles mature at a slow rate. Sunny and Gizmo aren't expected to develop their iconic white heads, like their parents Jackie and Shadow, until they reach 4 or 5 years old. More information on the Big Bear bald eagles and the Friends of Big Bear Valley is available on the organizations website at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Sister act: Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo are both female
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
This livestream of baby bald eagles is the only thing keeping me sane
The internet is an unpleasant place, full of grim headlines, misinformation and social media content designed to make you feel ugly and unsuccessful. But there are good bits too. Take Jackie and Shadow, a happy couple who live in a home with breathtaking views of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino county, California. They currently have two children, Sunny and Gizmo, who are preparing to leave home and make their own way in the world. They are, in many ways, the purest embodiment of the modern American dream: reality stars, and also bald eagles. The family has been on camera since October 2015, when the environmental non-profit group Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) started a live stream of the nest. For years, fans have watched live as the eagles share meals (mostly fish), relax and tease each other. Sometimes Shadow nips at Jackie's tail or wing 'to get a response out of her', says Sandy Steers, the executive director of FOBBV. 'It's hilarious.' The eagle cam was Steers's idea. She started watching the nest years ago, though from the ground, back when it was still occupied by Jackie's parents, Ricky and Lucy. 'I got to watch Jackie grow up through a spotting scope, and it completely hooked me,' she says. Over the years, the feed's numbers have soared like a majestic bird of prey. The YouTube page has more than 638,000 subscribers, and as I write this, 46,000 people are watching with me. Multiple news outlets have referred to the eagles as 'celebrities'. And there's merch: FOBBV sells Shadow and Jackie plushies ($30), tote bags ($20) and sweatshirts ($45). 'I think what draws people is that nature is fascinating, and most of us haven't really had the chance to sit and study it,' Steers says. 'It connects people with themselves and their emotions.' The emotions these eagles elicit seem to be pleasant. Besides the birds, the page includes another wonder of the natural world: a wholesome comment section. 'Love you Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo, you're in my heart forever!' one fan writes in the live chat. 'What gets me through the day is to watch this beautiful family thrive,' writes another. The eagles inspire such fervent adoration because of their personalities, says Steers. 'Jackie is serious and she's the boss, absolutely,' she explains. 'Shadow knows all of Jackie's rules, and at the same time, he's independent.' Jackie and Shadow's love is the stuff of romcoms. After Rick and Lucy left, Jackie occupied the nest with her first partner, Mr B. In 2018, they had two chicks, but only one survived. That summer another eagle appeared – a charming, impish and stubborn young man who began hanging around the nest and wouldn't leave no matter how much Mr. B snapped at him. Eventually, Mr B gave up and left. Don't bald eagles mate for life? 'For the most part, but apparently not always,' says Steers. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion Now, the family is mostly settled. Sunny and Gizmo are the couple's fifth and sixth offspring. The Eagle Log, which is run by FOBBV members and posts regular updates on the nest, recently confirmed Gizmo is a girl, based on her overall size, behavior and 'obsession with food'. The jury is still out on Sunny's sex, but the group hopes to have more clarity in the next couple of days. At eleven weeks old, the eaglets are almost ready to fly, and a 'fledge watch' is under way as fans eagerly wait to see them take to the skies. 'They don't look quite ready to me,' says Steers. 'But maybe that's just me hoping they stay longer.' I first heard about the eagle cam years ago from a friend, and ever since Gizmo and Sunny first hatched back in March (they're both Pisces), I've kept the live stream open in a tab on my computer. Between work tasks, I click over to see how my feathered pals are doing. It's become a happy break for me. I've watched Sunny and Gizmo grow from tiny balls of gray fuzz into big glorious raptors with razor sharp beaks and claws. I've seen Jackie feed the eaglets tiny bits of fish, and watched Gizmo hop in the air and practice flying ('We call that 'wingercising,'' says Steers). Sometimes the feed is quiet – perhaps the kids are napping and Jackie and Shadow are out hunting . I enjoy the serenity of the trees swaying in the wind and the lake's glitter too. As Steers wrote in a recent post in the Eagle Log: 'Sometimes a quiet, observant, appreciative loving day is simply essential to the joy of living for all beings.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Sad end in hunt for baby-faced student, 22, who vanished at California beauty spot
The search for a University of California Santa Barbara student who vanished while out with friends at a rural beauty spot has ended in tragedy. The body of Tanner Prentiss, 22, was discovered in Big Bear Lake on Monday. Prentiss disappeared on Saturday night while visiting the area with friends, according to the Big Bear Sheriff's Department. He was last seen just after midnight when he left his rental cabin and never returned. Police said he was wearing a black hoodie and jeans. The student was reported missing and deputies implemented an exhaustive search, recruiting dive team members to look for Prentiss. Authorities then issued a grim update that Prentiss' body was located in the water near the Pine Knot Marina. A cause of death has yet to be determined, but the coroner's office has initiated an investigation. There is no foul play suspected at this time. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tanner's family, friends, and all those who are affected by his loss,' the sheriff's department said in a statement. Big Bear Lake is a popular tourist destination, and Prentiss was staying at a rental cabin in the area, according to authorities 'The family is requesting privacy as they navigate through this tragic incident.' Prentiss was a senior at the University of California Santa Barbara studying sociology and economics, according to his LinkedIn profile. A representative for the university told the Los Angeles Times,:'Losing a member of our UC Santa Barbara community is heartbreaking.' 'We understand the impact and stress surrounding this tragedy and are committed to supporting our campus community who may be impacted. 'Our campus offers resources to students, staff and faculty who are in need of support.' Tributes have already begun pouring in for the university student, with dozens of comments on social media praising Prentiss. 'Rest is paradise Tan Man love you forever brother,' one comment read on his recent Instagram post. 'You better be dj'ing your heart out up there. rest is peace tanner, you're missed so much already,' another read. 'Rest in peace [heart emoji] i hope they find out what happened to you, may your soul be safe and sound,' a third added. A GoFundMe was set up for the Prentiss family, by his roommate. The fundraiser has already surpassed the $20,000 goal. 'It's hard to put into words what Tanner meant to those who knew him. He truly was an angel on earth — kind, compassionate, and deeply selfless,' the description read. 'Tanner believed in the good in people, even when they didn't see it in themselves. 'That's something I'll always carry with me, and I know many others will too.'
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
22-year-old man missing in Big Bear found dead in lake
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department investigators found the 22-year-old man who had been missing since Saturday night, dead in Big Bear Lake. Tanner Prentiss and several friends rented a cabin at Big Bear Lake for the weekend and after going out for the evening, Prentiss did not return to the cabin, detectives said. He was last seen around 12:30 a.m. on May 17 on Village Drive, according to the sheriff's department. Authorities put out a missing person's report, hoping for the public's help to find Prentiss. Following an extensive search by the sheriff's dive team, Prentiss' body was found Sunday in Big Bear Lake, near the Pine Knot Marina. Sheriff's officials said foul play is not suspected in the death. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tanner's family, friends and all those who are affected by his loss. The family is requesting privacy as they navigate through this tragic incident," SBCSD said in a statement.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
UC Santa Barbara student missing in Big Bear during weekend visit
Police are looking for a Santa Barbara man who disappeared from the Big Bear Lake area just after midnight Friday. Tanner Prentiss, 22, was visiting Big Bear Lake over the weekend with some friends but failed to return to his rental cabin, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. Police said he was last seen 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 40000 block of Village Drive. An alert posted by the Santa Barbara Snow Club said he was walking south toward Big Bear Boulevard and wearing a black hoodie and jeans. A LinkedIn profile identifies him as an economics and sociology student at UC Santa Barbara set to graduate next year. Those with information are asked to call Sheriff's Detective Brett Meelker at 909-866-0100. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
