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Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:39 pm
by RitaR
Welcome to the Big Bear California Eagle Thread

With a big thanks to FlyForeverFree, we have another eagle cam in California! Another big thanks to JudyB for doing the initial start up with this history and the maps! Thank you both very much!

Welcome to the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest at Big Bear Lake near Fawnskin in the San Bernadino National Forest, inland from Los Angeles.

Link to the cam at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izJQBl7WQUE

Cam with Chat, courtesy of Institute for Wildlife Studies - http://www.iws.org/interactive_nestchat_allUstream.html

Link to the old forum:
http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/vi ... 639#911639

Link to thread for 2017-2018:
viewtopic.php?f=112&t=151

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:40 pm
by RitaR
Map 1.jpg
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For those who watch the Institute for Wildlife Studies cams on the Channel Islands, Santa Catalina where the Two Harbors and West End nests are located is identified as the Catalina Island Essential Fish Habitat on the map above, and Santa Cruz island where the Pelican Harbor nest was (and probably still is, but the adults have been moving frequently so hard to find) and the Sauces Canyon nest is and the new Fraser Canyon nest will be - is the island labeled Channel Islands of California.

I saw on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Big ... 029491602/) that the adults are called Lucy and Ricky, but I have no idea how official that is. It appears that they are early layers, with a possibility of eggs in late December or early January - and unfortunately that doesn't always work out. Again from the Facebook page, they successfully raised an eaglet named Jack (who turned out to be female) in 2012, but lost eggs or young chicks to cold snaps in 2013 and 2014. They were raising a chick named Shadow in 2015, and I didn't find a report of a fledge, but he/she was looking good and was near full-size in posts I did find, so here's hoping that went well.

Dr. Peter Sharpe from IWS noted in their chat that "This nest is at an elevation of ~7000 feet, so it is probably one of the highest bald eagle nests." It does make me wonder why they nest so early - the Channel Island nests are later (though many of the eagles there - or their parents - were imported from further north where eagles were more plentiful when the bald eagle restoration project on the islands began, so they may be on a northern schedule). Here's a map of the US, showing that this nest isn't that much further north than the nests in Florida, and a bit south of the Carolina Raptor Center, in the southern part of North Carolina.
Map 2.jpg
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Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:43 pm
by RitaR
Current nest history.

A young adult was seen at the nest in the fall of 2016 and was joined by another young eagle in January 2017; the new pair spent a lot of time working on the nest. We have been calling them Mr and Mrs BB (short for Big Bear of course). In 2017 Mrs BB was still just a bit too young and didn't have eggs. Thankfully they returned to the nest for 2017-2018 nesting season.

2018 Season History:
First Egg Laid on 1/3/18. Chick hatched 2/11/18.
Second Egg Laid on 1/6/18. Chick hatched 2/12/18.
Chicks were named Stormy and Baby Big Bear.
3/23/18: One of chicks (Baby Big Bear) died overnight, most likely of hypothermia resulting from soaking rains followed by near freezing temperatures.
3/28/18: Stormy was banded and dead chick was removed from nest.
4/26/18: Stormy exited nest prematurely and is perched about 20' below nest. Stormy did find his wings. He revisited the nest several times.

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:45 pm
by RitaR
Season Summary

Eggs laid: #1 March 6th around 1:28 pm. #2 March 9th around 5:30 pm.

Hatched: Egg #1 hatched April 14th. #2 hatched April 15th.

Unfortunately we lost Cookie, the second eaglet, on May 27, 2019. Bad weather with snow and rain. They are stating due to hypothermia is what they think caused Cookie's death. Fly free and soar high little one. We will miss you.

Branched: Simba branched on the exit branch on July 2, 2019 around 6:24 am.

Fledged: Simba fledged at 6:19 am July 23, 2019.

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:46 pm
by RitaR
October 13, 2018

It was a rainy day at the nest. No eagles were seen.
rainy day.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:59 pm
by Kitcat11848
Hi Rita, thanks for opening th new thread. From what I’ve been reading on FB and the IWS chat, Mrs. BB ( aka Jackie) and Shadow have been around all summer, coming to the nest frequently. Mr. BB has been to the nest a few times. There are going to be some interesting dynamics here if Shadow is allowed to stick around. Trio?? One of the photographers also posted pictures on Friends of Big Bear FB with speculation that it is Stormy. No confirmation though. Another “ As the Nest Turns”.

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:41 am
by Ferenz
Nice video by LadyHawk
Shadow returned to the Big Bear nest early tonight for the first time since 9.28.18 when cam maintenance was performed!! Welcome back Shad Man!! We missed you!! The high definition 1080p clarity & colors are amazing as we see Shadow up close tonight. Truly stunning as this sub adult has matured right before our eyes for the past 4 months...

Image
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmE9tUn ... e=youtu.be

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 2:47 pm
by RitaR
Hi Ferenz. Thank you for posting. It's a beautiful day in Big Bear. No eagles have visited the nest in days. Maybe even weeks. None of the sticks or pine cones have been moved.
Big Bear.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 6:30 pm
by RitaR
Friday October 26, 2018

Finally! Eagles at the nest. Just after 6 pm. Looks like Mrs BB and Shadow.
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3.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 7:25 pm
by Kitcat11848
Hi Rita, this is a good sign I hope. I had read last week on the Friends of BIg Bear FB page that they were concerned that Mrs. & Mr. might choose another tree because of all the activity involved with the new camera installations. It seems it took a couple of days and there were quite a few people around. Mr. & Mrs. have been seen soaring and visiting another nest tree. They still don’t know what to make of Shadow still hanging around. Sure hope Mr. and Mrs. BB oth come to this nest soon.

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 6:48 pm
by RitaR
Thursday October 31, 2018

Hi Marianne! I peeked in this evening and found that Shadow and Mrs BB were at the nest again. Shadow arrived first at 5:53 pm.
Shadow arrives 5.53 pm.JPG
Mrs BB arrived a moment later.
Mrs BB arrives.JPG
3.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 6:50 pm
by RitaR
Shadow hopped up on the left branch and flew off.
4 shadow up left branch and flew off.JPG
Mrs BB went to the exit branch.
Mrs BB to the exit.JPG
The IR came on at 6 pm.
6 pm the IR just cam on.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 6:51 pm
by RitaR
Mrs BB flies off at 6:08 pm.
Off goes Mrs BB.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:03 am
by RitaR
Sunday November 4, 2018

Good morning everyone. No eagles have been to the nest lately, but there was a crow that checked it out this morning.
crow.JPG

Re: Big Bear CA 2018-2019

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 8:17 am
by Ferenz
8 November 5:57 am: Shadows' early visit

Image

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