Bald Eagle Chicks Named Sunny and Gizmo at Big Bear Nest

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — The two chicks of popular bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow have been officially named Sunny and Gizmo, as announced by the nonprofit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley on Tuesday.

Jackie laid her first egg of the 2025 season on January 22, followed by a second egg on January 25 and a third on January 28. The eaglets began hatching on March 3, with Sunny and Gizmo emerging shortly thereafter, while sadly, one chick did not survive a snowstorm.

According to Sandy Steers, Executive Director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, the larger chick has been named Sunny and the smaller one Gizmo. “We had over 54,000 names submitted for the naming contest, which shows how much people care about Jackie and Shadow and their beautiful chicks,” Steers said.

The naming contest ran until March 28, where entries were collected at various price points. The final names were chosen by a third-grade class at Bear Valley Elementary School.

Jackie and Shadow, who have been together since 2018, are known for their commitment to parenting and their iconic nest atop a 14-story Jeffrey pine tree near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. Jackie was the first bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear in 2012, emphasizing the ongoing legacy of this avian couple.

The eaglets are expected to learn to fly at approximately 10 to 12 weeks old, which could coincide with Memorial Day. Previous chicks have successfully flown from the nest around this time, with Jackie and Shadow’s previous chick, Spirit, taking her first flight on May 31, 2020.

Steers expressed gratitude for the community’s support and engagement, stating, “We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s enthusiasm and participation.”

For more information on Jackie and Shadow, and to follow the growth of Sunny and Gizmo, visit the Friends of Big Bear Valley website at friendsofbigbearvalley.org.