“A bliss beyond imagination,” says Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends at Big Bear Varley, who says she and her almost volunteer team feel after seeing three Eaglets Hatch last week. These were the first eggs since 2022 to successfully hatch the internet’s famous bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow.
“I was optimistic and I felt really good, like, ‘This is going to be a time.’ But I’ve been so hard not to let myself get too excited over the past two years, so I’ve continued to ease it.” Steer.
Under the supervision of 24/7 live streaming camera The first two eggs mounted on top of Jackie and Shadow’s nest in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California were hatched on March 3rd and March 4th.
Since then, thousands of people around the world have seen the trio learn eatresolves wings and projectile poop to each other. In some respects, the event was a complete inversion for anyone who saw three eggs not being hatched last year. Statistically, only 50% of bald eagles eggs hatch, 70% survive the first year, According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
They will still face some challenges as they are out in the world. According to Steers, the weather is their biggest threat. Eagles are born without them Waterproof feathers and keep warm air out all down layers and cold air. Important waterproof feathers usually come about 6 weeks after hatching The snowstorm is still a forecast for the area.
“I know I’m worried about snow this week. Chicks should actually come while they’re small, because they can all fit under Jackie and the shadows and dry them out,” Steers says. “The challenge comes when they get bigger and they can’t fit, but don’t have waterproof feathers in perfect condition.”
Wind predators in this area are also a threat. in 2023Jackie and Shadow’s eggs are eaten by Ravens, and the pair are observed sing and chasing Ravens from the nest and their eagles.
According to Steers, one thing that doesn’t matter is food. It’s available at Big Bear Lake Rainbow trout, bass, bluegill sunfish, blue catfish, regular carp, etc. For the birds to eat. However, food generally causes sibling competition among the eagles. The dominant chicks tend to eat first, but the little chicks wait around, finding creative ways to eat like a tandem feeding, waiting for the dominant chick to be too full.
“We’ve seen them already boning each other like that. At this age, they’re pretty harmless. That rival settles when they have a lot of food and are shown to feed,” Steers says.
Jackie and Shadow in particular are very skilled at collecting fish and returning them from the lake to the nest.
[ Related: Jackie and Shadow’s third eaglet has landed. ]
“Shadow actually has the fastest catch record on the lake, and fishermen laugh about it,” Stairs says. “He left the nest, flew a mile to the lake and returned with the fish in a minute and a half.”
Over the next few weeks, viewers can expect to see more meals. Athletic ability. Eagles stretch their wings by flapping them up and down as a way to prepare them to go to the sky when they are fully escaped. They should be ready to put their nests Approximately 10-12 weeks. Meanwhile, they grow rapidly from about 3 inches to 3 feet tall.
As they grow, the Eagles also become more interested in the nests and world around them. We are also watching I’ll suggest a name For the Eagles. Viewers can submit their names through the online portal, and then the local third-grade class will receive the honor of voting for the official Eagle name.
“We love how people are learning about nature. We are surprised, entertained and curious to see all the possibilities there,” Steers says. “No matter what happens, we can observe it. And sometimes we have feelings, sometimes they are sad. But it’s all a nature and we learn to connect.”
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