Fledging doesn’t always go to plan. On Sunday morning at 11:24 am PDT, one of Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 chicks accidentally fledged after a mishap.
Sandy and Luna had stepped onto the nest’s “front porch” when Luna attempted to jump over his sister to re-enter the bowl of the nest. The maneuver put Sandy off balance, causing her to lose her footing and to go flapping down the tree onto lower branches. She managed to dislodge herself from the branches and landed elsewhere in another tree. Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the non-profit organization that runs the bald eagle’s 24/7 livecam, reported hearing “squees” from Sandy as she vocalized to her parents.
Mom Jackie arrived within a few minutes and will now take turns with dad Shadow watching over Sandy on her out-of-nest adventures. “Sandy looked good in her flight, and she is likely relaxing from her unexpected adventure” FOBBV shared on Instagram. “Jackie and Shadow will now follow her wherever she goes and make sure she is fed and taken care of. Currently our camera operators are continuing to search for her.”
Bald eagles typically fledged between 10 and 14 weeks old. Sandy was born in early April and is now 12 weeks old. While within the expected range for fledging, she hadn’t yet completed all the flap training many young eagles do before their first flight. FOBBV will keep viewers updated as the camera operators try to locate Sandy. They’ve asked people to stay out of the area to not disturb the eagles and their habitat.
Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest – Cam 1
Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 babies: Everything you need to know
It’s been another roller coaster nesting season for Jackie and Shadow, a pair of internet-famous bald eagle parents living in San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California. After ravens destroyed two of their eggs in January, Jackie and Shadow laid two new eggs that successfully hatched.
Chick 1 hatched on April 4 at 9:33 p.m. PDT, while Chick 2 followed on April 5 at 8:30 a.m. PDT. Their large nest in Big Bear Valley east of Los Angeles is livestreamed 24 hours a day by nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) and has captivated millions.
On May 1, FOBBV announced the chicks’ names: Sandy and Luna. The names were selected by elementary school students after thousands of submissions from fans.
How long will the chicks stay in the nest?
Chicks usually stay in the nest until 10 to 14 weeks of age. This year’s chicks will likely fledge sometime between mid-June and mid-July.
What challenges do the eaglets face?
Before leaving the nest, the chicks face threats from other birds of prey, including hawks, ravens, other eagles, and owls. Inclement weather can also present challenges for the chicks. In 2025, a March snowstorm resulted in the death of one of Jackie and Shadow’s three chicks.
During fledging, only 70 percent of eaglets survive. One of the greatest threats is from cars that can injure or kill the birds while they scavenge for food on roadkill.
Who are Jackie and Shadow?
The pair first got together in 2018 and successfully raised chicks in 2019 and 2022. However, their eggs failed to hatch in 2023 and 2024. Only 50 percent of eagle eggs successfully hatch, so this pair has already beaten the odds.
What happened to Jackie and Shadow’s 2025 eaglets?
In 2025, Jackie laid three eggs that all hatched in early March. On March 13, a strong snowstorm dumped up to two feet of snow and battered the nest with strong winds. Only two of the chicks were visible on the live cam when the storm passed by the next morning. FOBBV later confirmed the passing of one of the chicks. The two surviving chicks were later named Sunny and Gizmo after 54,000 names were submitted by fans.
What happens after chicks fledge?
Young eagles usually fledge–or leave the nest and fly–when they can flatten their wings and have feathers capable of flight. This typically occurs when the birds hit 10 to 14 weeks of age. Males also tend to take their first flight a little sooner than females. So we might expect to see Luna take flight first.
According to FOBBV, fledglings from Southern California have been spotted as far south as Baja California, as far north as British Columbia, and as far east as Yellowstone National Park.
About 70 percent of bald eagles survive the fledgling stage. FOBBV does not tag their eagles, so it’s not possible to follow the chicks’ journeys after they flee the nest.
Can I help Jackie and Shadow?
Yes. Environmental groups are currently fundraising $10 million to protect Jackie and Shadow’s foraging area from development. Learn more at SaveMoonCamp.org.
