One of Big Bear Lake’s two bald eaglets took flight for the first time and struck out on its own a bit ahead of schedule after tumbling from the nest on Sunday.
The “accidental fledge” took place shortly before 11:30 a.m. June 28, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, which operates the popular 24-hour live stream that has followed the journey of parents Jackie and Shadow as they’ve raised this year’s chicks, dubbed Sandy and Luna.
“Luna attempted to jump over Sandy to get back to the nest, when Sandy lost her footing and fell to some branches below,” FOBBV shared via social media. “A few minutes later she freed herself from those branches and apparently landed somewhere below the nest as we could hear her squees. Jackie showed up within minutes and landed below the nest keeping an eye on Sandy.”
“At 11:30 [a.m.], our security camera captured Sandy flying from the nest tree area to another area out of view, making it difficult to find where she landed,” the group stated. “Sandy looked good in her flight, and she is likely relaxing from her unexpected adventure. Jackie and Shadow will now follow her wherever she goes and make sure she is fed and taken care of.”
FOBBV camera operators were trying to relocated Sandy on Sunday afternoon.
Sandy and Lunda hatched from their eggs on April 4 and 5, respectively. Sandy is believed by FOBBV to be female, while Luna is believed to be male.
They were Jackie and Shadow’s second clutch of the year, after the first two eggs were lost to invading ravens. Bald eaglets generally fledge from their nests at 10 to 12 weeks of age, according to experts, so Sunday’s departure was timely, even if unplanned.
Both young birds have been seen eagerly exercising their wings in anticipation of taking to the sky.
Just-fledged eaglets tend to stay near the nest for several weeks as they hone their hunting and other needed life skills. Once ready, they will depart the area to establish their own territories, potentially hundreds of miles away.
Follow along via the Nest Cam
The public is invited to follow along the journey via Friends of Big Bear Valley’s 24-hour live stream of the nest, perched more than 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine overlooking Big Bear Lake.
More information is also available on the group’s website at friendsofbigbearvalley.org.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Big Bear bald eaglet takes first flight after falling from nest
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
