One of the eaglets from Big Bear has reached an exciting milestone. On Thursday, Sunny, who is now 12 weeks old, successfully hovered above the nest for the first time. This milestone was reported by Sandy Steers, the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that operates a live camera monitoring the nest.
Sunny and its sibling, Gizmo, share their home with their parents, Shadow and Jackie. The nest is located 145 feet high in a Jeffrey Pine tree, overlooking the beautiful Big Bear Lake. The eaglets have been practicing flapping their wings and climbing on tree branches as they prepare for their first flights.
Hovering is an important step in the development of young eagles. It occurs when they catch the wind just right, lifting themselves off the ground without leaving the nest completely. This is different from fledging, which is when they actually fly away from the nest. The typical age for eaglets to fledge is between 10 and 14 weeks. Gizmo will turn 12 weeks old this Saturday.
Sunny and Gizmo hatched in March, but they faced a tough start. Their triplet sibling did not survive a snowstorm that dumped over two feet of snow in the area. Now, both eaglets are thriving and have grown to about three feet tall, with a wingspan exceeding five feet. Their nest, which they share with their parents, measures six feet across.
Once they fledge, some eaglets return to the nest on the same day, while others may take a few days to come back. Shadow and Jackie will continue to care for their young even after they begin to fly, teaching them how to hunt for food. Eagles usually leave their birthplace a few months after fledging, as they learn to survive on their own.
Steers has observed that Sunny and Gizmo have developed a strong bond. When food is plentiful, they are friendly with each other. However, like many young animals, they can show signs of rivalry when resources are scarce.
As the eaglets prepare for their next big steps, many people are eagerly watching their progress through the nest cam, enjoying the journey of these remarkable birds.