Sunny, one of two female eaglets born to celebrity couple Jackie and Shadow of Big Bear Valley, flew for the first time on Monday, June 2, marking a major milestone as fans around the world cheer on these captivating birds.
But if you’re just stepping into the joyful world of this eagle family in Southern California, catching up on their history can feel intimidating.
Here’s a quick guide on who Sunny and Gizmo are, who Jackie and Shadow are, and how you can stay up to date with these A-List eagles.
When were Sunny and Gizmo born?
Sunny and Gizmo hatched early March. Jackie and Shadow had three chicks that hatched, but one died in late March.
How old are Sunny and Gizmo?
Sunny is 90 days old as of Monday, June 2. Gizmo is 86 days old as of Monday, June 2. That’s according to the Desert Sun’s calculations based on Friends of Big Bear Valley recent posts on Facebook.
What are Sunny and Gizmo’s gender?
It was revealed in late May that both Sunny and Gizmo are females.
Here’s how to tell Sunny and Gizmo apart
One way to tell Sunny and Gizmo apart is related to their mouth. More specifically, the corner of their mouth. In a post on April 25, Friends of Big Bear Valley said that Gizmo’s yellow corner of the mouth was more orange in color with a thicker lower “lip” while Sunny’s corner of her mouth is not curved and appears more like a straight line.
“We will be looking for more ID field marks that may help tell Sunny and Gizmo apart in the coming weeks, paying closer attention to their beaks, gapes, eyes, eyebrows, ankles and talons,” the post read. “Also, the overall plumage color, the tail color (once fully grown), and ‘wingpit’ color often prove useful for ID purposes.”
How long have Jackie and Shadow been together?
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.
Where is Jackie and Shadow’s nest?
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.
Big Bear eagles update: Here’s how to keep up with Jackie and Shadow, Sunny and Gizmo
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 up to date with Friends of Big Bear Valley’s Facebook page, which makes frequent updates on the beloved eagle family.
Victorville Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: New to the world of Sunny and Gizmo? Quickly catch up after the Big Bear eaglet’s first flight
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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