BIG BEAR CITY, Calif., June 29 (Our Hesperia) — One of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets slipped from the Big Bear bald eagle nest Sunday morning in what Friends of Big Bear Valley described as an accidental fledge, or “fludge,” as the young bird moved toward its first flight.
The nonprofit, which runs the nest’s live camera in Big Bear, California, said Sandy was seen flapping near the outer branch or front edge of the nest before losing her footing and dropping to lower branches. The bird then moved out of the camera’s view.
Friends of Big Bear Valley said Sandy appeared to be on another branch or in another tree and was likely resting or getting her bearings. The group also said Jackie, Sandy’s mother, was nearby after the fall and that Jackie and Shadow would continue to follow and feed her.
The eaglet and her sibling, Luna, hatched in early April and were about 12 weeks old at the time of the incident, a stage when young bald eagles are typically beginning to fledge. Friends of Big Bear Valley said its camera operators were still searching for Sandy after the fall.
In a post cited by CBS Los Angeles, the group reminded visitors to stay out of the habitat during what it called a sensitive time for the eagle family.
