Latest news with #BigBearValley
Fast Company
10-06-2025
- General
- Fast Company
Bald eagle live cam update: What's next now that eaglets Sunny and Gizmo are leaving the nest?
There comes a time in every person's life when they have to say goodbye to a situation that they have outgrown. The same concept applies to eaglets who fledge or leave the nest—typically, when they reach 10 to 14 weeks of age. Millions of people have been watching this happen in real time thanks to a viral nest camera operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), located in California. Since the beginning of 2025, the live-stream of this family of bald eagles—headed by Jackie and Shadow— has emerged as a bonafide phenomenon of internet culture, providing an escape for Americans burned out on news and politics. Now Jackie and Shadow's offspring, Sunny and Gizmo, have officially flown away from home for the first time, meaning the end is near for their time at home. Here's what to expect next: Gender reveal (or something close) Although the only way to know definitively is through a blood test, at the end of May, FOBBV announced that it believes both Sunny and Gizmo are females. This is because of the sisters' size and vocalizations. Another indication is their love of food. Speaking of eating, the best way to tell the sisters apart is their mouths. The corner of Gizmo's is thicker and more of an orange color. Sunny's is not as curved. Timeline: When did the eaglets first leave the nest? Sunny is the oldest by four days, so it makes sense that she decided to take off first. At 90 days old, she left the nest's Y branch on Monday, June 2, at 10:46 a.m. local time. Gizmo looked on in awe as Sunny made her way to the nearby Roost Tree. Parents Jackie and Shadow spent the night with her perched below. FOBBV warned viewers that Sunny might not return to the nest right away because a flight of that height would require some major wing power. Sunny said challenge accepted and returned to check in on her sister the very next day. She continued to drop in especially during mealtimes. Gizmo's turn On Saturday, June 7, it was Gizmo's turn to fledge. Her first flight was not as graceful as her sister's. At around 8:27 a.m. local time, it almost appeared as if she fell, misstepped, and was forced into flight. Regardless of whether this was accidental or not, she made the best of it and landed on the nearby Simba Tree. This happened at the same time that Shadow was bringing breakfast to the empty nest. The caring dad found his daughter on the Simba Tree and kept an eye on her as she recovered from her big moment. What's next for the eagles? Sunny and Gizmo returned to the nest on Monday for dinner. Fans were happy for this reunion because they know these days are numbered. The eaglets will hang around the area for a couple of months, learning important survival skills—such as hunting—from their parents. After that, they may disperse and find a new territory of their own. Bald eagles can be found in most of Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. They like to live near a body of water, which acts as a food supply. Their iconic white heads will come in at 4 to 5 years of age, around the time of sexual maturity. Then the cycle will repeat itself all over again, proving that goodbyes are often just the beginning of new adventures. Be sure to watch the web camera embedded below for these last precious moments. (At last check it had more than 15,000 concurrent viewers in the early-morning hours of Tuesday.)
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Taking to the sky: Big Bear Valley eaglets Gizmo and Sunny take first flights
BIG BEAR VALLEY, California (ABC4) — Both eaglets from Big Bear Valley in California have officially taken to the skies! In a Facebook post from Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), eaglets Sunny and Gizmo officially took their first flights, with Sunny officially leaving the nest on Monday, followed by her sister Gizmo early this morning. Gizmo did have a little bit of trouble on her first flight, according to FOBBV. After attempting to take off, Gizmo quickly grabbed a branch for balance then successfully flew off a moments later, as he was seen on camera located in a different tree Friends of Big Bear Valley says in their post that at the eaglets' flight feathers are still coming in and are a bit heavier than an adult eagle's feathers. The post says that both Sunny and Gizmo have a little way to go before they're a little more graceful like their parents Jackie and Shadow. Latest Headlines: Salt Lake City International Airport announces open house event Taking to the sky: Big Bear Valley eaglets Gizmo and Sunny take first flights West Haven park closed after fire burns five acres Man arrested after holding three people hostage inside Price home Motorhome fire causes major delays on I-15 in Kaysville Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Gizmo did it!' Big Bear bald eaglet Gizmo takes first flight, joining sister Sunny in sky
The younger of the two Big Bear eaglet sisters took to the sky for her first flight on Saturday, June 7 when the Friends of Big Bear Valley cameras caught Gizmo flapping her wings and taking off at 8:27 a.m., Popular Science reported. Sunny officially fledged and left the nest at 10:46 a.m. June 2. Despite having outgrown her older sister, Gizmo, who is days younger than Sunny, it took five days longer for Gizmo to follow her sister in flight. 'Gizmo did it!' the Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam posted on their Facebook page. Bald eagles generally make their first flights, or "fledge," from the nest at 10 to 14 weeks of age. Sunny and Gizmo are both 12 weeks old. Here's what to know about Sunny, Gizmo, and their parents, Jackie and Shadow. Sunny and Gizmo hatched early March. Jackie and Shadow had three chicks that hatched, but one died in late March. Jackie and Shadow have been a mating pair since 2018, when Shadow replaced Jackie's previous mate, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley. Jackie is believed to be the first recorded bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear in 2012. She was initially known as Jack until it became apparent she was female, and her name was switched to Jackie. Shadow hatched in Big Bear in 2015. The eagles' nest is in Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine tree, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley. Related: With all the Sunny and Gizmo mania, how many bald eagles are in California, the nation? The Friends of Big Bear Valley operate two live feeds that capture different angles of the nest that Jackie and Shadow call home. The livestreams can be watched on YouTube at FOBBV Cam. You can also stay updated with Friends of Big Bear Valley's Facebook page, which makes frequent updates on the beloved eagle family. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Big Bear bald eaglet Gizmo takes first flight from nest-joining-Sunny
CBS News
02-06-2025
- 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.
