Latest news with #baldEagle
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Big Bear eaglet takes flight from nest in California
Big Bear's famed bald eagle parents, Jackie and Shadow, are getting closer to being empty-nesters as one of their two eaglets took flight from the comforts of the nest on Monday. At about 10:46 a.m., one of the eaglets was perched on a branch when she appeared to jump off, flap her wings and fly away. Friends of Big Bear Valley Executive Director Sandy Steers told KCAL News on Monday that it was Sunny who left the nest, while Gizmo stayed behind. "I feel elated that Sunny made it and is flying and is successful," Steers said. It's not yet clear where Sunny flew off too, but young eagles oftentimes return to the nest relatively quickly after their first flight, Steers said. The eaglets were born in March and are around 12 weeks old, making it prime-fledging time. Viewers of the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam have been anticipating the moment when eaglets Sunny and Gizmo would brave flight. "Fledge watch" began around May 13, as bald eagles are between 10 to 12 weeks old when they leave their nest. One of the Big Bear eaglets appeared to take flight around 10:46 a.m. on Monday. Friends of Big Bear Valley Sunny's flight on Monday was the result of days of practice. Friends of Big Bear Valley noted on Facebook posts that the pair had been flapping and jumping, preparing for their flight as they stood on the outer rails of their nest. "The birds show signs of flight as they start flapping their wings hard and fast enough to feel their feet lift slightly off the nest. They will then likely start venturing out onto the outer branches of the nest tree and also practice there," FOBBV wrote on Facebook. Once confident, they will take off, likely near a perch tree where Jackie and Shadow have been hanging out. As of Monday, Gizmo was yet to leave the nest with her sister. Steers said Gizmo was slower developing than Sunny, so it's not yet clear if she'll be ready in the next few days. What's next for the eaglets? Gizmo and Sunny were both determined to be female, based on quick growth. Both will remain in the habitat for one to three months after fledging, and FOBBV said they will likely be in and out of the nest during this time. "By fall, they will take off on their own. Since they aren't banded, we will have no way to know if they stay together, or for how long," FOBBV wrote on Facebook. It is also not known if they will recognize each other. The organization noted that there is some evidence that bald eagles can memorize, but there have not been any specific studies to verify that information. Most eagles reach maturity around 5 years old, with a white head and tail and bright yellow beaks and eyes.
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Big Bear eaglet takes flight from nest
Big Bear's famed bald eagle parents, Jackie and Shadow, are getting closer to being empty-nesters as one of their two eaglets took flight from the comforts of the nest on Monday. At about 10:46 a.m., one of the eaglet was perched on a branch when she appeared to jump off, flap her wings and fly away. The eaglets were born in March and are around 12 weeks old, making it prime-fledging time. Viewers of the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam have been anticipating the moment when eaglets Sunny and Gizmo would brave flight. "Fledge watch" began around May 13, as bald eagles are between 10 to 12 weeks old when they leave their nest. One of the Big Bear eaglets appeared to take flight around 10:46 a.m. on Monday. Friends of Big Bear Valley Friends of Big Bear Valley noted on Facebook posts that the pair had been flapping and jumping, practicing for their flight as they stood on the outer rails of their nest. "The birds show signs of flight as they start flapping their wings hard and fast enough to feel their feet lift slightly off the nest. They will then likely start venturing out onto the outer branches of the nest tree and also practice there," FOBBV wrote on Facebook. Once confident, they will take off, likely near a perch tree where Jackie and Shadow have been hanging out. What's next for the eaglets? Gizmo and Sunny were both determined to be female, based on quick growth, and Sunny's sex is still unknown. Both will remain in the habitat for one to three months after fledging, and FOBBV said they will likely be in and out of the nest during this time. "By fall, they will take off on their own. Since they aren't banded, we will have no way to know if they stay together, or for how long," FOBBV wrote on Facebook. It is also not known if they will recognize each other. The organization noted that there is some evidence that bald eagles can memorize, but there have not been any specific studies to verify that information. Most eagles reach maturity around 5 years old, with a white head and tail and bright yellow beaks and eyes.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Live cam viewers catch special moment as Big Bear eaglet Sunny attempts first flight
For the first time, one of the two young bald eagles born this year in the beloved Big Bear nest was seen attempting to take flight. The eaglet, named Sunny, appeared hesitant as he spread his wings and briefly lifted off – but, despite his fear, it marked a special moment for tens of thousands of viewers around the world who have been following Jackie and Shadow's family journey via livestream. 'Sunny looked afraid,' said Sandy Steers with Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that manages the eagle cam. 'When he went back, he let the wind carry him back to the nest, and he laid down for over two hours.' Exhausting and perhaps terrifying for the young eagle, the moment marks one of the final steps before taking full flight. According to Steers, a fledgling could happen at any moment now. Sunny and his sibling, Gizmo, were born to Jackie and Shadow, a bonded bald eagle pair who have drawn global attention since they began rebuilding their mountaintop nest in October. 'Bringing in big sticks and tugging back and forth on them and making sure they're all in the right place and doing the beaky kisses that they do to bond,' Steers recalled. In January, Jackie laid three eggs, and both parents were seen playfully vying for the chance to keep them warm. 'It's amazing how much they want to take care of their eggs,' Steers said. All three eggs hatched successfully by March, but a harsh late-winter storm tested the family's resilience. One eaglet died during the storm. 'We think it was the oldest one,' Steers said. 'That it might have gotten big enough and gotten out from under Jackie during the storm and gotten wet.' Despite the loss, Jackie and Shadow continued caring for their remaining two chicks, drawing admiration from tens of thousands of viewers who watched their journey online. 'What were you thinking when you watched that?' KTLA's Shelby Nelson asked Steers, reflecting on Sunny's first lift off. 'I was impressed and excited at the same time,' said Steers. Gizmo, the younger eaglet by four days, may take a bit more time before following suit. 'Gizmo likes to eat and likes to lie in bed and be fed by mom, and so we aren't sure how fast she's going to develop,' Steers said. For viewers around the world, the eagle family has been a lesson in perseverance, devotion, and love. 'First of all, resilience,' Steers said. 'No matter what's going on, Jackie and Shadow just keep coming and bringing food… And they take care of chicks no matter what's going on.' 'To me, it's like the signs of what real love is about,' she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
National Post
22-05-2025
- National Post
What it's like travelling through the Canadian Rockies on board a luxury train
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content It's hard to choose a favourite moment when you're travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer train, but one unexpected pleasure on a recent journey came when I was standing on the train's open-air vestibule trying to get a closer look at a bald eagle perched on a nest at the edge of a lake somewhere between Vancouver and Kamloops, B.C. Article content Article content Article content I was so focused on trying to video the beautiful scene that I didn't notice the tunnel up ahead. Most of the other passengers went inside when the train entered the long, dark tunnel, but I couldn't resist shouting at the top of my lungs just to hear the satisfying echo. I'm not sure if any other guests used the vestibule for tunnel shouting, but if they didn't do it, they missed out. Article content Article content Article content There are many surprises on the Journey Through the Clouds Rockies Highlights itinerary with Rocky Mountaineer. While the two-day train journey from Vancouver to Jasper, Alberta is the unequivocal highlight of the six-day trip, there are wonderful experiences to enjoy at each of the stops along the way. Article content We started the trip with a two-night stay at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel, a beautiful property with great views of the Vancouver waterfront and free West Coast Cruiser bicycles to help guests explore it. My husband and I geared up for the trip with a Flyover the Rockies experience with Flyover Vancouver and we also spent an afternoon on Granville Island. When we weren't exploring or relaxing in the rooftop pool, we enjoyed some fantastic dining experiences at the hotel's on-site restaurant, ARC including the Sip & Shuck experience that involves sipping cocktails and B.C. wine while learning how to shuck (and eat) fresh oysters. Article content Article content The train ride Article content After two days of fun, we gathered in the lobby of the hotel for our bus transfer to the Rocky Mountaineer train station. There's something almost magical about train travel and Rocky Mountaineer has made an art form of it with incredible dining and personal attention — especially on the GoldLeaf service that we experienced. The train is equipped with comfortable seats and broad windows that offer fantastic views of incredible mountain scenery, including some waterfalls and other sites that are only accessible by rail. Knowledgeable cabin hosts announce points of interest along the way and provide information and facts about the history and wildlife. Article content Article content 'No two days are the same,' admitted Wendy McMichael, a senior general manager who has worked for Rocky Mountaineer for 14 years and was onboard during our trip. 'I'm still like a kid when I hear a wildlife call. I'm plastered up to the window with everyone else.' Article content Article content A luxury train journey is a romantic trip and over the years, McMichael has seen several wedding proposals, marriages and vow renewal ceremonies. No matter which level of service you choose (SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf), the meals are wonderful and even though we weren't served dinner onboard, I wasn't very hungry when we stopped in Kamloops overnight.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Organization reveals gender for one of the Big Bear eaglets
It's a girl! Or at least that's what this Big Bear wildlife organization believes. In the latest update on Southern California's favorite bald eagle babies, the Friends of Big Bear Valley said there's enough evidence to assume one is female. Gizmo's size compared to its father, Shadow, lends credence to that indication, the nonprofit says. "At this point, from the size compared to Shadow, the ankle size and general behavior, we are pretty sure that Gizmo is a girl," Tuesday morning's update reads. Friends of Big Bear Valley also points out that Gizmo's obsession with food is a sign of a young female. On the other hand, it's not yet clear what Sunny's gender is. The organization says it hopes to make that determination in the coming days. At just more than two months old, the two young eagles could be heading for the skies shortly, the nonprofit says. Both Gizmo and Sunny have been practicing wing flaps and have even caught some air in recent days. The Big Bear bald eagle family can be observed 24/7 via a webcam hosted by the Friends of Big Bear Valley on YouTube. Jackie and Shadow's latest parenting adventure took the internet by storm earlier this year. After laying eggs a few times in recent months with no success, the two young eaglets hatched in March along with a third chick who unfortunately did not survive. The surviving eaglets, however, spurred a naming competition that received more than 50,000 submissions. The names ultimately selected, Gizmo and Sunny, were chosen by students of a Big Bear elementary school.
