Two Bald Eagle Chicks Prepare to Fledge

Two adorable bald eagle chicks are on the verge of a significant milestone—getting ready to fly for the first time after hatching earlier this year.

These chicks are the offspring of the well-known bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, and are being watched live via camera by enthusiasts from all over the globe in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains.

On Wednesday, one of the chicks—either Luna or Sandy—was seen on camera flapping its wings and hopping around the nest, indicating that flight is on the horizon. This is a clear sign they’re gearing up to leave the nest.

Before they take off, young chicks engage in activities like hopping and vigorous wing flapping. These movements are crucial for building the necessary muscle to thrive in the wild.

Such behavior typically appears about a week to ten days prior to fledging, as they start practicing short flights from the nest tree’s branches.

These two fluffy stars hatched over the Easter weekend and are now just over nine weeks old. Generally, eagles nest for about 10 to 14 weeks, so their departure could happen at any time.

“Their skeletons and soles of their feet have fully developed,” according to a message from Big Bear Valley. “In the coming weeks, their feathers will grow more, their beaks will get slightly larger, and they will gain a bit more weight.”

Notably, one of the chicks is named after Sandy Stairs, a beloved former executive director of Big Bear Valley, who passed away in February and was a dedicated advocate for eagle habitats.

Friends of Big Bear Valley noted that Sandy was the most popular name choice, receiving 3,706 votes out of a total of 63,915 entries. While it was mentioned that Mr. Sandy might not have wanted the eagles to be named after him, it’s clear that his memory is honored through this choice.

The larger chick, named Sandy, received 30 student votes, while the smaller, more spirited chick was named Luna with 25 votes. Interestingly, the group currently believes Luna is male and Sandy is female.

A message on the charity’s site stated, “The siblings are living their best lives under the care of their wonderful parents, Jackie and Shadow.”

Fans have been actively participating by submitting name suggestions and donating to aid conservation efforts. Recently, the nonprofit launched a significant fundraising campaign to safeguard the Birds’ Mooncamp habitat from potential future development near Big Bear Valley, successfully raising $3.2 million, with the campaign still ongoing.