The famous Bald Eagle couple in Big Bear Lake escaped the chicken coop, and naturalists pointed out that the city’s July 4 fireworks display could be the culprit.
Jackie and Shadow and their Lake View Aerie are the subject of a 24-hour online webcam that has been monitoring the couple since 2018, when Shadow replaced Jackie’s former companion. The couple attracted thousands of viewers around the world as they hatched and raised five eagles, including Sunshine and Gizmo earlier this year.
But on Friday night, the boom and explosion of the fireworks seemed to frighten them.
“Jackie and the Shadow weren’t on the perching tree this morning,” Sandy Steers, executive director of Big Bear Valley Friends, wrote Saturday. The observation was made on the group’s Facebook page, where recorded reproduction and behavior were documented in the internet’s famous eagles and their babies (a third compatriot also hatched for March but died later that month). “And, they weren’t hearing their usual vocals anywhere nearby.”
Friends in Okura Valley have been warning before Independence Day that it was against local fireworks, which would result in “creating a 30-minute instant satisfaction.” It circulated a petition with 40,000 signatures and thought it might be difficult on Sunny and Gizmo.
The young siblings were last seen on June 27, and the group said whether they were still in the area or whether they had expanded their horizons and on a journey away from their habitat, it was unclear whether they were still in the area. ”
Friends in Big Bear Valley run 145-foot-tall Jeffrey Pines overlooking Big Bear Lake. The group is usually cautious when identifying the couple’s whereabouts to avoid attracting crowds to their habitat. It also requires fans not to share or solicit location information and use unrecognized tree names such as “habitat tree” or “Lookout snag” in their online updates when describing their whereabouts.
Before the fireworks show, visiting Big Bear is the city’s visitor center and tourism Facebook page, which he said would not damage Eagle’s habitat.
“While the fireworks may be a startle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that the incident is not expected to cause nest failure. As usual, we have placed firework barges in the nest to reduce risk,” the post on the travel group’s Facebook page said.
On Saturday, Steers released two matches by game of the parents’ daytime event on July 4. Steers cannot be contacted directly on Saturday.
“Jackie and the Shadows are seen together in their favorite perch trees, figuring out their morning songs and then trying to wake up to start the day. As they set off, one of them was dropped by a look-looking obstacle to check everything around the habitat and then proceeded to the next destination.”
When it was coming, Steers said: “Jackie or Shadows were all on the Gemini Pine, hanging out and checking the surrounding community. They even scanned the other side of the neighborhood for a while, sweeping through after 8 p.m.
The boom began around 9 p.m., Steers said. By then, “A eagle was no longer visible in the perching tree, and our security cameras flew away from the perching tree. Jackie made a peal call (as a warning to danger) and several other short calls nearby.”
“The full show” began at 9:17, one minute late, “the eagle cannot be seen.”
Since then, the group has not provided any updates.
Now, the Eagles are gone, although they may be back in the future.
“We all send hope for their quick returns,” Steers wrote.
