A young bald eagle from Big Bear Lake, identified as Sandy, experienced a startling fall from her nest on Sunday morning. The incident occurred as the eaglet attempted what appeared to be her first flight, an event captured by a popular live nest camera operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The video footage shows Sandy losing her footing after her brother, Luna, jumped over her. She subsequently tumbled from the nest, but appeared to land on a lower branch, just out of the camera's direct view. Her mother, Jackie, was observed near Sandy shortly after the fall.
Friends of Big Bear Valley indicated that Jackie, an experienced parent, has navigated similar situations with previous eaglets. Both Jackie and Shadow, the eaglet parents, are expected to monitor Sandy and ensure she is fed and cared for as she develops outside the nest.
Sandy and Luna are both approaching 12 weeks old, a typical age for young bald eagles to begin their first flights. This unexpected plunge marks an early transition for Sandy into the world beyond the nest.
The two eaglets hatched over Easter weekend and have garnered a significant following among viewers of the live camera feed. Sandy was named in honor of Sandy Steers, the late executive director of Big Bear Valley and a dedicated advocate for the eagles' habitat. The name submission was reportedly the most popular in a naming contest held by the organization.