Chick of Huge Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow vanishes from view

Issues are rising for Huge Bear’s beloved bald eagle couple Shadow and Jackie after one of many three eaglets that hatched within the pair’s nest this month disappeared from view.

Throngs of followers flocked to the favored 24-hour dwell feed of the eagles’ nest to rejoice when the pair welcomed the fuzzy new arrivals, the final of which broke out of its shell within the early morning hours of March 8.

For every week, viewers watched as father Shadow and mom Jackie fed and tended to their seemingly wholesome offspring, precisely described on the digicam’s Fb web page as “fluff balls of adorability.”

However issues took a distressing flip Friday morning. Solely two grey chicks may very well be seen transferring within the nest overlooking Huge Bear Lake.

A snow berm left by this week’s storm obscured the digicam’s view into the nest. However Associates of Huge Bear Valley, the tutorial nonprofit that runs the webcam, confirmed Friday night {that a} small little bit of seen grey fuzz might certainly be the stays of 1 younger chick.

“We all know that each the chance and the uncertainty are onerous to listen to,” the nonprofit wrote in its public log, noting that it was unimaginable to find out which of the three chicks might have been misplaced. “We share these emotions with all of you.”

On Saturday morning, greater than 65,000 of the eagles’ followers watched dwell as one of many dad and mom fed bits of fish to 2 awake and keen chicks. A small little bit of fuzz connected to a immobile object subsequent to them wavered within the wind.

Because the dwell digicam was put in in 2015, tens of hundreds of followers have adopted Jackie and Shadow’s rising brood.

The latest births observe years of disappointment. In 2023, the pair’s eggs had been eaten by ravens. Final yr, extreme chilly impeded the hatching of one other trio of eggs.

The eaglet’s precise destiny continues to be unsure, however Associates of Huge Bear Valley took to Fb on Friday night to dispel rumors originating from viewers’ misinterpretation of eagle conduct.

Shadow didn’t step on one in all his chicks, the group wrote, nor did Jackie unintentionally knock a chick from the nest whereas slapping away a flying squirrel.

“We’re observers of nature. Issues occur that we can’t management. We have no idea the whole thing of the present scenario at the moment. Even when our feelings are operating over, drama, fear and assumptions don’t change any scenario or assist anybody,” the group wrote. “We’ve got the chance to watch the miracles of nature in all of its points. Please strategy it with endurance, understanding and heartfelt kindness to these round you.”