Live Eagle Cam — Big Bear, California

Comments

• spideyman

  April 7

  
  
  
  
  Feathers are growing
  
  
  

  
• spideyman

  April 7

  Florida Nest
  
  M and F continue with their stay vacation visiting the nest every few days. All is well at the pasture.

  
• GNTLGNT

  April 7

  ....those eaglets look like something out of Henson's Dark Crystal......

  
• Hedda Gabler

  April 13 edited April 13

  Spidey, forgive my ignorance on this. 

  
  

  If the two eagle babes are a boy and a girl, can they grow up to be a mating pair or are they wired to find future partners unrelated? I know they aren’t human and thinking incest or about weakening their line, but is this something that is innate in them?
  
  they are getting huge. 

  
• spideyman

  April 14

  Hedda Gabler said:

  Spidey, forgive my ignorance on this. 

  
  

  If the two eagle babes are a boy and a girl, can they grow up to be a mating pair or are they wired to find future partners unrelated? I know they aren’t human and thinking incest or about weakening their line, but is this something that is innate in them?
  
  they are getting huge. 

  No,it is generally unlikely that two eagles from the same nest would mate. This can also be said about mating with close relatives.  Once they fledge to their forever journey they usually do not stay together. It is a 5 year journey to adulthood in which over 50% do not survive the first year.
  
  Inbreeding would have the consequence of a negative effect on the offspring. The Eagle's main aim is survival and propagation. 
  
  Eagles are know for their strong  pair bonding and monogamous breeding behavior.  Once a pair bonds it is usually for life.  
  
  
  
  

  
• Hedda Gabler

  April 15

  Informative as always, thank you!

  
• spideyman

  April 19

  Some Big Bears Snaps
  
  
  
  
  
  Beakee kisses
  
  
  icoming Jackie
  
  
  Sunny stand tall next to Shadow and has mom's big feet.

  
• spideyman

  April 19

  

  
• spideyman

  April 19

  M on the right, F on the left
  
  
  F on the nest- good nestorations.
  
  
  M to the nest
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
• spideyman

  April 27

  Season 13 at SWFEC
  
  The Hancock Forum for SWFEC Season 13 will be closed tomorrow, 4/27/25.
  Even though the season ended in the terrible events of E24 and E25 passing
  from the avian flu, they deserve to be remembered for the days they lived and flourished
  and all the joy they gave to so many. I am so relieved that M15 and F23 were
  strong enough to survive and to continue on hopefully for Season 14, God willing.
  Thank you to everyone that contributed to the forum.
  It is very important to me that the story is told about this special nest.
  Special thanks to David Hancock, Judy B, and Mary F for this opportunity.
  Thanks to Lady Hawk and Androcat for all the great videos and also to Androcat
  for all your support in keeping me grounded and answering my questions.
  I have reviewed all my screen captures of this season and have completed my collages
  for the year. I hope you enjoy them. Please feel free to save for your own personal use.
  All pics have been cropped and are property of SWFEC.
  
  Dec 2024
  
  
  
  
  

  
• spideyman

  April 27

  January 2025
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
• spideyman

  April 27

  Family
  
  

  
• spideyman

  April 27

  Big Bear Saturday
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This morning the sun shines again.

  
• spideyman

  April 28

  Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

  5h  · 

  Dancing the ‘Fish Tussle’…

  Left on their own after a full day, Gizmo was busy ‘winging’ when Sunny discovered a treasure in the nest. Curious Gizmo rushed over to see what had Sunny’s attention…ah ha! A fish!

  When Gizmo decided the fish should be shared, a pull and tug game started with the fish in the middle and Sunny and Gizmo both testing their improved balance skills to keep hold on each end without falling.

  Gizmo lost that one, so more wingersizing seemed to appropriate to get in shape, while Sunny carried the fish back and forth finding the best place to hide it, claim it with both feet and try harder to pull pieces off…

  …but Gizmo found it anyway and pulled a few bits off before pulling the whole fish away. More tugging back and forth, Gizmo has it, no, Sunny has it, no Gizmo, no Sunny, Gizmo…oops. Gizmo dropped it behind a branch, but rescued it in time for Sunny to snatch it away again. This time Sunny tried to swallow the whole fish! But that didn’t work very well.

  When Sunny moved further away, Gizmo tried taking it again and this time Sunny dropped it under a branch. Then more back and forth tussles…mine, no mine, I got it, no, I got it. Then Gizmo tried to swallow the whole thing. They both did get tiny pieces but neither one can claim to be a self-feeding expert yet.

  Even though Sunny and Gizmo’s tussle was over food, it was a very peaceful dance back and forth. Gizmo eventually gave up, laid down and let Sunny have the fish. And of course, Jackie and Shadow each fed both chicks in the evening.

  Yesterday, Gizmo and Sunny had their first experience of snowy weather on their own…and they were both fine. They have grown their waterproof feathers sufficiently to literally ‘weather the storm’, as the moisture just bubbles up and rolls off.

  After the snow, they proved how strong they are with some serious wingers. First Sunny did a nice demo. With Gizmo’s turn, Sunny’s upside-down curious watching seemed to be cheering for more. Gizmo obliged with some great flapping.

  All great successes of independence!

  But there still is nothing better than when Mama Jackie comes back to snuggle with her babies at the end of the day.

  Sandy