Latest news with #FledgeWatch
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fledge watch: Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo prepare to take first flights
"Fledge watch" has officially begun at the Big Bear bald eagle nest, where chicks Sunny and Gizmo have been seen regularly exercising the growing wings ahead of their first flights, which could be coming any day. Sunny hatched in the nest perched high atop a Jeffrey Pine on March 4. Gizmo emerged from the shell three days later. "Today Sunny is officially 10 weeks old, which starts Fledge Watch," said Sandy Steers, who serves as executive director at the nonprofit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley, which installed and runs a 24-hour live stream of the nest that has thrust the family of raptors into an international spotlight. "Based on their current development, it may be a bit longer before either is actually ready to fly, but each day brings new progress and curiosity," she added in a social media update to eagle-eyed fans of the webcast. The eaglets have been eagerly flapping their wings and making small hops as they get the hang of the physics of flight, showing they're "almost ready for liftoff," according to FOBBV. Sunny has been spotted hoisting himself into the air for periods of about half a second. "It takes a whole second of lift to be considered hovering, but Sunny is definitely getting close," according to Steers. Gizmo has followed suit, demonstrating the younger sibling is only slightly less advanced than Sunny, she added. The rapid progress has been bittersweet to watch for many of the countless regular viewers of the nest webcam around the globe, who expressed both joy in the chicks' development, yet also dread the day when they will leave the nest for good. "All of a sudden I don't want them to fledge/leave home! I've become so attached to the whole family," wrote one fan via Facebook. "I know…..it is exciting but sad at the same time," a commenter responded. "I'm already a little teary eyed," added another. The eaglets have grown to match, and possible even exceed, the height of their father, 11-year-old Shadow, Steers said. But they've not quite matched the size of their 13-year-old mother, Jackie. More: When will the Big Bear bald eaglets get their iconic white heads, leave the nest? Once they first take flight, the eaglets will remain near their parents for several weeks or months as they master the art of aviation and hone their hunting skills, wildlife experts said. Once ready, Sunny and Gizmo will strike out on their own to establish their own territories just about anywhere they see fit in North America. "It will be a very bittersweet time when Sunny and Gizmo fledge and embark on their grand journeys, which may take them thousands of miles away from their natal home," FOBBV representatives said. As excitement continues growing around the Big Bear bald eagle nest, FOBBV urged those to decide to pay a visit in person to do so respectfully and ethically. The nesting area lies on national forest land and is closed to the public, the organization said in a written statement. "As our main guiding principle, we always ask to steer clear of sharing locations of perching sites inside or outside of the nesting habitat to avoid attracting crowds," the statement said. "Crowding and increased human attention may result in perching site abandonment." "Our wish for the eagles is to be out there living their lives without our intrusions. Online nest cameras allow us to unobtrusively witness eagle lives up close and personal day by day. Our Nest Cam and Wide View Cam provide the best view of the nest and its surrounding habitat," the statement continued. "Ever since the first nest camera was installed in the Big Bear Valley, we have worked to ensure that Jackie and Shadow's home remains undisturbed and safe for nesting," the group added. "Animals cannot ask for personal boundaries or respect. Therefore, it is up to us to give them the space they need to live their lives, eat their dinner, meet their boyfriends and girlfriends, and make more animals. It is up to us to remain environmentally conscious and humble as we continue sharing our planet with many extraordinary creatures." Those who wish to get a gander of the birds in person are encouraged to take a slow drive, walk or boat tour around Big Bear Lake, keeping eyes fixes on the tallest trees, especially dead ones, which eagles like to perch on. Representatives also suggest watching from Dana Point Park, where the nesting tree can be safely and legally viewed with binoculars or a spotting scope. More information on Friends of Big Bear Valley is available on the organization's website at This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Big Bear bald eaglets Sunny and Gizmo prepare to take first flights
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Fledge watch' underway as Jackie and Shadow's baby eagles prepare to fly for the first time
Sunny and Gizmo, the beloved bald eagle chicks of Big Bear Valley in California, are on the brink of a major milestone: their first flight. Eaglets typically develop flight feathers over a period of 8-12 weeks. By week 10, they usually have enough feathers and are large enough to take their first flight. Eagles typically fledge, meaning they take their first flight and leave the nest, between 10 and 14 weeks of age. They begin preparing for this transition by flapping their wings, hopping onto branches and practicing short flights around the nest. Sunny hatched on March 3 and Gizmo hatched a day later. The third eaglet hatched on March 6 and later died during a snowstorm in the middle of the month. According to Sandy Steers, Executive Director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, "Sunny's hard, determined flapping created a little bit of lift-at least for half a second at a time." Gizmo, just four days younger, is not far behind, practicing wing flapping and even attempting to branch onto nearby limbs. Their parents, Jackie and Shadow, have been diligently preparing their babies for the exciting moment, bringing in sticks to reinforce the nest and providing plenty of food to ensure their strength. Observers have noted the siblings' playful interactions and growing independence, such as self-feeding and spending nights alone in the nest. Fans worldwide have been captivated by the live-streamed footage of this eagle family, watching as Sunny and Gizmo grow and develop. The nest, perched 145 feet up a pine tree, offers a panoramic view of Big Bear Lake, providing a stunning backdrop for these young eagles' early life stages. As Fledge Watch continues, viewers eagerly anticipate the moment Sunny and Gizmo will spread their wings and soar into the skies. Their first flights will not only be a testament to their growth but also a celebration of the resilience and dedication of their parents, Jackie and Shadow. The Friends of Big Bear Valley are inviting eagle enthusiasts to participate in a contest to guess the exact date and hour each eaglet will take flight. Winners will receive certificates commemorating their accurate predictions. To join the Fledge Watch and submit your guesses, visit FledgeFest 2025. Only one guess per person is allowed, and entries must be submitted before the May 16 deadline. This is a unique opportunity to be part of Sunny and Gizmo's journey into the sky. Stay tuned to the live cam and keep an eye out for that exhilarating moment when these young eagles spread their wings and soar for the first time!
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bittersweet fledge watch begins for bald eagles Sunny and Gizmo
It's almost time for two young birds who have captivated the internet around the world to leave the nest. According to Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), Fledge Watch for eaglets Sunny and Gizmo officially kicks off today. Young eagles like Sunny and Gizmo typically fledge–or leave the nest and fly–when they can flatten their wings and have feathers capable of flight. This typically occurs when the birds hit 10 to 14 weeks of age. Males also tend to take their first flight a little sooner than females. Over the past several weeks, Sunny and Gizmo have made major progress towards this goal. They can feed themselves and even spent their first night alone on the nest on May 8. They've also been flapping vigorously to build up their strength to take to the skies. Sunny has even started hopping up onto the edges of the nest, in what looks to be preparation for flight. This week's Fledge Watch is expected to be similar to Pip Watch from early March. However, the fledge window is wide and could take until mid-June. A previous eaglet named Simba took a full 16 weeks to fledge. 'When they feel confident enough, you know, we don't know whether they'll go together or separately, but each one will just decide it's ready,' FOBBV Executive Director Sandy Steers told LAist. 'They may come back to the nest, you know, now and then, but they just fly for the first time and it's beautiful.' It might take the pair a little while to get their wing strength up to fly back up to the 145-feet high nest. However, they are expected to stick around the Big Bear Lake for at least three months and follow their parents while they learn to fish and hunt. According to FOBBV, fledglings from Southern California have been spotted as far south as Baja California, as far north as British Columbia, and as far east as Yellowstone National Park. About 70 percent of bald eagles survive the fledgling stage. Getting hit by cars when they are scavenging on roadkill. flying into power lines, or lead poisoning from eating something that has been shot are their biggest threats during this time. Two monitored chicks–Simba and Stormy–were both found dead only after fledging. Tens of thousands of viewers have been following their journey via a 24-hour livecam, and it has been an emotional rollercoaster. After three eggs failed to hatch in 2024, three eggs appeared in the nest earlier this year. Chick 1 hatched late on March 3, followed by Chick 2 early on March 4, and Chick 3 hatched on March 8. On the evening of March 13, a snowstorm hit the area, dumping up to two feet of snow and pummeling the nest with strong winds. On the morning of March 14, only two of the chicks were visible on the live cam. FOBBV later confirmed the passing of one of the chicks. [ Related: Jackie and Shadow's eaglets officially named: Meet Sunny and Gizmo. ] FOBBV believes that Chick 1 died based on foot size and the amount of thermal down feathers on the other two eaglets. The deceased chick has since been named Misty in honor of Kathi Misterly, an FOBBV volunteer who passed away after a battle with cancer. A group of students from a local elementary school voted on the names Sunny and Gizmo in early April. As of now, their bones are almost fully grown. They're estimated to be about 3 feet tall at this stage, closer to dad Shadow's height. As with most female eagles, Jackie is larger. While the sex of the eaglets is not yet determine–and they look a lot alike–there are some slight differences on their heads and tails. Sunny is the older eaglet and has a longer tail. The first bits of white on Sunny's tail feathers are also starting to show. As for Gizmo, the corner of this eaglet's mouth is more orange than Sunny's. Gizmo also sports a thicker lower lip. FOBBV says that this gives Gizmo a 'Mona Lisa smile.'
