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Eagle Chicks Sunny and Gizmo Earn Their Names in Public Voting
The identities of two celebrated eagle chicks have been officially revealed. Previously known as Bigger Chick and Smaller Chick, the eaglets have been named Sunny and Gizmo, respectively. The pair was welcomed by their parents, Jackie and Shadow, in their nest situated above Big Bear Lake within the San Bernardino mountains, east of Los Angeles, California, in March. This nest is under continuous surveillance by cameras set up by the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the monitoring and conservation of local wildlife.
FOBBV reports that they received an astonishing total of over 54,000 name submissions. On April 1, students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades from local elementary schools participated in the naming process by voting on the newly proposed names. They had the choice of 31 options, including Skye, Crackle, Talon, Blaze, and Bell. This vibrant tradition of allowing schoolchildren to name the eaglets has been continued since Jackie and Shadow’s previous chick, Spirit, was given a name in a similar fashion in 2022, when 10,000 names were submitted. This unique practice of engaging students in the naming process traces its roots back to Jackie’s parents, Ricky and Lucy.
As Sandy Steers, the executive director of FOBBV, shared with Popular Science, “The third graders always study eagles. A retired biologist who formerly worked with the Forest Service introduced this connection to the students.”
The eaglets are starting to grow into their feathers. CREDIT: FOBBV.
According to the organization, accurately determining the sex of bald eagles typically requires DNA testing. However, the FOBBV team may be able to make educated guesses regarding the eaglets’ sex around the age of 10 weeks, based on observable traits such as size and vocal pitch.
Eagle parents Jackie and Shadow tending to their new chicks. CREDIT: FOBBV.
For the thousands of viewers invested in this live nest cam experience, the journey has been a mix of joy and sorrow. Following the disappointment of three eggs failing to hatch earlier in 2024, optimism returned when three new eggs appeared in the nest. Chick 1 greeted the world late on March 3, followed by Chick 2 on March 4, and Chick 3 on March 8. However, the emotions took a somber turn on the evening of March 13, when a severe snowstorm hit the area, resulting in significant snowfall and harsh winds. By the morning of March 14, viewers noted that only two chicks were visible on the live stream. Subsequently, FOBBV confirmed that one of the eaglets had passed away.
Authorities from FOBBV postulate that the first chick likely died, based on observations regarding its size and the thermal down feathers present on the surviving eaglets. In a touching tribute, the deceased chick has been named Misty, honoring the memory of Kathi Misterly, a beloved FOBBV volunteer who recently lost her battle with cancer.
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