Key Takeaways
- One of the Big Bear bald‑eagle eaglets, Sandy, accidentally fell from a nest branch on June 29 2026 but quickly recovered and took her first flight shortly afterward.
- The incident was livestreamed to over 20,000 viewers, sparking concern and an outpouring of supportive comments from the online eagle‑watching community.
- Sandy’s mother, Jackie, arrived within minutes to monitor the eaglet, and the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley confirmed Sandy appeared healthy in flight.
- The fall occurred as the eaglets practiced fledging behaviors—branching, wing‑flapping, and short hops—typical for bald‑eagle chicks 10‑14 weeks after hatching.
- After fledging, young eagles like Sandy and her brother Luna usually remain under parental care for a few weeks before migrating hundreds of miles north to forage.
- The livestream, which began in 2015, honors the legacy of former Executive Director Sandy Steers, whose advocacy helped protect the eagles’ habitat from a proposed luxury‑home development.
On Sunday morning, June 29 2026, viewers of the Friends of Big Bear Valley’s 24‑hour eagle cam watched as one of the two nest‑bound eaglets, Sandy, lost her footing while her brother Luna attempted to jump over her to reach the nest. The mishap occurred at 11:24 a.m., sending Sandy tumbling from a branch onto lower limbs below the nest. The fall was captured on the live feed, prompting immediate reactions from the online audience—many expressed shock and concern, posting messages such as “I’m having heart palpitations” and hoping the eaglet was uninjured.
Within minutes, Jackie, the eaglets’ mother, appeared on the camera, perching below the nest to keep a watchful eye on her chick. Friends of Big Bear Valley’s media manager, Jenny Voisard, later reassured the public that Sandy was fine, urging viewers to remain calm. The organization’s Facebook update explained that after a few minutes Sandy managed to free herself from the branches, landed somewhere beneath the nest, and was heard vocalizing. By 11:30 a.m., a security camera recorded Sandy launching from the nest tree area and flying out of view; her flight appeared strong and steady, suggesting she was simply recovering from the unexpected tumble.
The episode highlighted the natural fledging process. Bald‑eagle chicks are considered fledglings once they have grown sufficient feathers and wing muscles to leave the nest. Voisard noted that eaglets typically fledge 10‑14 weeks after hatching, preceded by behaviors such as wing‑flapping, hovering, and branching onto nearby limbs—actions both Sandy and Luna had been displaying throughout the weekend. Their practice on the “front porch” branch of the nest made the accidental slip unsurprising to longtime observers.
After Sandy’s flight, Luna remained on the nest branch, chirping loudly and appearing to search for his sibling. Voisard said Luna had been looking for Sandy since she departed. The mother continued to monitor both chicks, ensuring they were fed and safe as they explored the surrounding trees. While young eagles often stay near the nest for a few weeks after fledging to learn hunting and survival skills from their parents, they eventually embark on long‑distance migrations—traveling hundreds of miles north to join other bald eagles in pursuit of salmon and other prey before settling down to mate and build their own nests.
The incident also drew attention to the broader story of the Big Bear eagle cam, which has turned the local raptor pair into internet celebrities. The livestream began in 2015 after Sandy Steers, the group’s former executive director, pioneered the idea of placing cameras above the nest to provide continuous public access. A second camera was added in 2021. Steers’ work extended beyond streaming; she led a campaign to block a 50‑unit luxury‑home development less than a mile from the eagles’ nesting ground, negotiating a $10 million land‑purchase agreement to preserve the forest. As of mid‑June 2026, more than $3 million had been donated toward that conservation effort.
In honor of Steers, who passed away in February 2026, the Friends of Big Bear Valley held a celebration of life ceremony at Veterans Park on June 13, drawing community members and fans of the eagle cam. Steers had emphasized that the organization’s mission—to protect and conserve Jackie and Shadow’s habitat through monitoring, education, and advocacy—also helps humans connect with nature. Her legacy lives on through the ongoing livestream, which continues to educate and inspire thousands of viewers worldwide.
The situation remains a developing story, with the Friends group still monitoring Sandy’s whereabouts and well‑being. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.