One of Big Bear’s watched eaglets took a worrying tumble from the family nest on Sunday, but the team behind the livestream says it is staying positive that she is fine. The bird, identified as Sandy, was seen on the Friends of Big Bear Valley camera flapping on a branch before slipping downward.
The fall happened in stages. Around 11:24 a.m., Sandy was standing near the nest and trying to balance while flapping her wings, then lost her footing and dropped to a lower branch.
A series of slips on the branch
About a minute later, Sandy fell again to an even lower branch. By 11:30 a.m., the eaglet appeared to be hanging upside down before dropping out of view of the live camera.
| Time | What Was Seen | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 11:24 a.m. | Flapping near the nest and slipping to a lower branch | Still visible on camera |
| About 1 minute later | Another fall to an even lower branch | Still visible on camera |
| 11:30 a.m. | Hanging upside down before falling out of view | Out of view from the live camera |
In a statement to CBS LA, Friends of Big Bear Valley said it remains hopeful that Sandy is OK after the scare. The organization said a security camera later caught her flying and landing in another tree.
“Fortunately we saw her fly and land on another tree from our security camera,” the organization said. “Right now she is likely hiding out and getting her bearings.”
Friends of Big Bear Valley also said Sandy’s mother, Jackie, was nearby after the incident. The group has been following the eaglet family closely as Jackie and Shadow raise their two young birds in the nest.
A family close to first flight
Jackie and Shadow welcomed their two new family members in early April. The eaglets were later named Sandy and Luna, with Sandy named after the late Friends of Big Bear Valley wildlife activist Sandy Steers.
A blog post from Friends of Big Bear Valley on Sunday morning suggested the eaglets could be just days away from their first flight. The organization also reminded visitors to stay away from the habitat during this sensitive period.
“We also remind everyone that it is illegal to be in the habitat at this sensitive time for our eagle family,” Friends of Big Bear Valley said.
No additional details were immediately available after Sandy’s fall, but the organization’s comments suggested the situation may not be as serious as it first appeared on the live feed. For now, the eaglet remains out of view while the group keeps watch.