Inside Story

Proud Big Bear Eagle parents Jackie and Shadow are now empty nesters.

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. “Gizmo did it!” the Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam posted on their Facebook page.

As KCAL9 News in Los Angeles reports, Gizmo could be seen on the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam standing on a branch before beginning to flap her wings and soar off into the air. Her first attempt looked to be unsuccessful, as she quickly latched back onto a branch, but she tried again successfully a few seconds later.

The flight didn’t seem to last long, and some speculate that her flight may have been accidental rather than intentional. Gizmo quickly disappeared from the main feed provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley, but the wide angle camera showed what appeared to be Gizmo located on another tree close by moments later.

“Fledge watch” began around May 13, as bald eagles are usually between 10 to 12 weeks old when they prepare to leave the nest.

Gizmo’s older sister Sunny officially fledged and left the nest at 10:46 a.m. June 2. Despite having outgrown her older sister in size, Gizmo, who is approximately a week younger than Sunny, took five days longer for Gizmo to follow her sister in flight.

The eaglets who were born in March and are nearly 13 weeks old have been practicing for several days. They could be seen flapping their wings and jumping from one branch to another, getting ready for their big moment. Gizmo took flight at 89 days old, after some “intense wingersizing sessions yesterday on the High Perch,” Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote on Facebook.

FOBBV Executive Director Sandy Steers told KCAL News last week that although it is unclear where Sunny and Gizmo will go, young eagles tend to return to the nest relatively soon after their first flight.  “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 posted on Facebook.

Gizmo and Sunny 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. Sunny has continued to visit the nest since her first flight, eating and sleeping at home. Her parents, Jackie and Shadow, have been seen soaring with her – and will undoubtedly do the same with Gizmo – likely showing their offspring tricks and techniques that will help them successfully venture out on their own.

—
Photo Credit: Petar Marshall / Shutterstock.com