Sandy the Big Bear eaglet soars after plunge

Sandy’s first – Big Bear livestream viewers watched eaglet “Sandy” take a steep, apparently accidental plunge from a nest tree branch on Sunday morning—after a collision with her sibling—then spread her wings and fly away shortly afterward. Friends of Big Bear Valley’s media

At 11:24 a.m., the livestream suddenly held its breath.

Viewers watching the Big Bear bald eagle cam saw one of the two eaglets—Sandy—take a steep, apparently accidental plunge from a tree branch. The moment was dramatic enough to stop thousands of people mid-scroll.

“She’s fine,” said Jenny Voisard, media manager with Friends of Big Bear Valley, in a brief interview early Sunday afternoon. “I would just urge everyone to be calm.”

The tumble came after the birds were active near the “front porch” branches of the nest. In a Big Bear group post. Lina Cabanila shared the feed and described what viewers were seeing: a collision with Sandy’s sibling. followed by the eaglet’s dramatic fall. Cabanila wrote that she was “on the live cam now,” adding, “OMG. I’m having heart palpitations right now. I hope there are no injuries.”.

Larry Pilkinton also posted from the same thread. saying the incident seemed bound up with how the eaglets had been behaving—“out on the limb then trying to hop-fly over the other to get back to the nest”—and hoping Sandy would be OK. Jeannie Kendrick added a simpler, urgent wish: “Hope wings aren’t injured!”.

Voisard said it appeared Sandy’s initial fall was a “fludge”—a premature fledge or flight—before the eaglet recovered quickly. Shortly after the plunge, Voisard said “Jackie is on scene,” referring to the eaglets’ mother. Jackie could be seen among the trees shortly after Sandy fell.

Then, just as quickly as the fear hit, it eased. Not long after the tumble, Sandy spread her wings and soared away.

The episode landed on top of a season already playing out in real time for the public. The 2026 eaglets made their debut on April 4 and 5, part of the extended bird family of Jackie and her mate, Shadow. Their progress has been the centerpiece of a 24/7 livestream operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley. watched by tens of thousands at a time.

On Saturday afternoon. nearly 17. 000 viewers watched as the eaglets displayed the behaviors that signal readiness to fly—one bird staying on a branch next to the nest while the other moved between the branch and the nest. stretching its wings and appearing close to taking off. By Sunday morning, more than 20,000 viewers were watching the live cameras.

Voisard has said that eaglets are generally considered ready when they hover in the nest by flapping their wings, then start to branch out and perch on nearby branches—before moving out toward the “front porch branch.” She also said eaglets typically fledge from a nest 10 to 14 weeks after birth.

The timing of Sandy’s first flight also carries a reminder for anyone hoping the story will stay calm and predictable. Voisard previously said Sandy and Luna—her sibling—would likely stick around for some time after taking flight. remaining under the care of their eagle parents and learning from them.

But the young eagles don’t stay long. According to the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. within weeks of leaving the nest the young birds migrate hundreds of miles north to join others of their kind in search of salmon and other food. Voisard said young bald eagles are “nomadic the first few years of their lives. ” traveling far and wide before settling down to take a mate and build a nest.

For now, Sandy’s plunge has turned into a visible lesson in how quickly things can change on the nest’s edge—fear first, then wings. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Staff writers Samantha Gowen and Sean Emery contributed to this report.

Big Bear bald eagle eaglet Sandy livestream Jackie and Shadow Friends of Big Bear Valley fledgling fludge nest front porch branch