Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow briefly fled Big Bear during a Fourth of July fireworks show, but their eaglets were seen safe on a nest cam early Sunday morning, after the parents returned to care for the chicks.
On Saturday night in Big Bear, the sky lit up with fireworks as families filled local viewing areas. For Jackie and Shadow, the show meant something else: they flew off during the holiday display.
By early Sunday morning, though, their eaglets were back in the rhythm of the nest.
Around 6 a.m. Sunday. the chicks Luna and Sandy were spotted safe and sound on the popular livestream nest cam trained on a pine tree in the Big Bear Valley. The birds were snacking on fish in the family aerie. Big Bear Valley media and website manager Jennifer Voisard said the parents did fly off when the nearby Fourth of July holiday show promoted by the tourism organization Visit Big Bear began Saturday night.
But Jackie and Shadow returned to their nest Sunday morning to care for the eaglets, which had remained near the nest during the fireworks.
For environmental advocates, the timing this year carried a particular worry. The eaglets were on the cusp of flying, and the pair had taken their first flights just days beforehand. They had been spotted in nearby trees but didn’t immediately return to the nest.
That anxiety intensified after the fireworks were planned for a season when the birds were already so close to leaving the nest for good.
The nonprofit that operates the webcam, Friends of Big Bear Valley, had warned local officials in advance. In a letter. it said. “whether they are still in the nest or newly fledged. they will depend on Jackie and Shadow to care for them.” It also cautioned: “If. as in the past. Jackie and Shadow were to flee the habitat area for a few days. this could put the eaglets in danger at this important time of their lives.”.
Sunday’s early-morning sighting was a relief for the people watching—especially those who had feared a second disruption for young birds already near their first flights.
The fireworks show has also been surrounded by controversy. A Change.org petition urged officials to move the festivities farther away or switch to a more environmentally friendly drone show. More than 45,000 people signed the petition.
Visit Big Bear said the event is worth keeping—at least as it is.
The travel organization framed the fireworks as an economic driver in a year when Big Bear saw less snow than usual during its peak winter months. In a statement. Visit Big Bear said. “The fireworks show is a long-standing community tradition and an important economic driver for Big Bear’s local businesses. workers. restaurants. lodging properties. recreation providers. and families.” It added that the show’s context mattered “this year after another low-to-no snow winter. which directly impacted many of our neighbors. employees. and small businesses.”.
Visit Big Bear also said the show takes place about two miles away from Jackie and Shadow’s nest and lasted about 30 minutes.
Even after the parents returned, the nest remained a public focus. The eagles—and occasionally their chicks—could be seen on Friends of Big Bear Valley’s livestream heading into Sunday evening.
Big Bear Jackie Shadow bald eagles eaglets Luna Sandy Fourth of July fireworks nest cam Friends of Big Bear Valley Visit Big Bear