Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow flee their nest following July 4th fireworks

Big Bear’s famed bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have fled their nest after July 4th fireworks were set off in the area.

The eagles have yet to return, according to the nonprofit Friends of the Big Bear Valley.

It was reportedly the fifth time that’s happened in recent years.

The organization had opposed local fireworks – “all but begging,” as one leader put it –  contending they could be especially difficult for Sunny and Gizmo, the pair’s offspring that hatched in March.

Located inside the San Bernardino National Forest, the 15-mile-long Big Bear Valley boasts a diverse ecosystem with a range of local plants and wildlife. That includes the iconic American bald eagle, whose population remains threatened. Friends of the Big Bear Valley installed a bald eagle nest cam as part of an effort to protect and preserve the natural habitat through education and monitoring.

Jackie, a large female bald eagle, is roughly 13 years old, while her male partner Shadow is approximately 11 years old.

On July 4th, Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of the Big Bear Valley, shared an update:

“At about 9 pm, when some booms started, one of the eagles was no longer visible on the Roost Tree and was seen by our security camera flying away from the roost tree. Jackie made a peal call (a call emitted as a warning about danger) and a couple other short calls from nearby.

“The full show started at 9:17 and no eagles were visible on the roost tree by 9:18. The fireworks went on for another 20 minutes to the big finale.”

Earlier that week, on June 30th, the organization shared a statement to its 1 million Facebook followers about the upcoming holiday fireworks show:

“Sadly, Visit Big Bear and their agency and community partners are standing by their decision to blast off July 4 fireworks in Big Bear this Friday. We have tried speaking with them, all but begging, showing documented proof of Jackie and Shadow leaving the area for days, explaining how fireworks do major damage, not just to birds and wildlife, but to the lake with pollution, the ducks and their babies, the overall environment and humans breathing the air polluted by the event, as well as pets and PTSD humans.

“Shadow and Jackie leaving at this time of training and growth for Sunny and Gizmo could be especially devastating to the juveniles’ long and short-term development and chances of survival. Eagles and especially juveniles have very poor night vision, and being startled into flight at night is very dangerous.”

In 2023, the organization created a presentation for Visit Big Bear, highlighting the dangers of fireworks to wildlife.

Steers and a spokesperson for Visit Big Bear could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.