One of the three bald eagle chicks at the Big Bear nest has died following a severe snowstorm, as confirmed by Friends of Big Bear Valley on Saturday. The storm, which brought over two feet of snow, obstructed the view of the nest, making it difficult to monitor the chicks’ wellbeing. The chick’s disappearance was first noted when only two eaglets were seen in the nest after a feeding session on Thursday.
According to NBC Los Angeles, all three chicks were last seen together on Thursday evening. In an Instagram post late Sunday night, Sandy Steers of Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote, in part:
“Two healthy chicks help handle the sadness. Jackie and Shadow also did what they needed to do with the chick who had passed away, so that they could move on from the sadness. In the early morning, Shadow moved it from the nest bowl to the side of the nest. And later, Jackie flew it off the nest. They both treated that chick with care in their process of releasing and letting go.
It can sometimes be hard in accepting the things that happen in nature. It can also be difficult to know the best way to explain these things to the many young kids and students who are watching the camera. We honor those parents and teachers taking the great care and patience to do this.
Thank you for allowing your openness, caring and curiosity about Jackie and Shadow and their family to teach us all some of nature’s amazing lessons.”
The eaglets, born to the eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, hatched earlier this month, with the first chick emerging on March 3, followed by the others in the subsequent days. The nest has gained attention through a live camera feed, allowing viewers to follow the eagle family’s journey.
Friends of Big Bear Valley, a volunteer group, continues to monitor the nest and plans to provide updates as the snow melts and visibility improves. They emphasized the unpredictability of nature, urging the public to approach the situation with patience and understanding.
VVNG.com reported that despite the loss, Jackie and Shadow have been seen caring for the remaining chicks, delivering food and maintaining the nest. The organization expressed hope that the eagle family’s resilience would bring comfort to those following their story.
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