Big Bear eaglets named Sandy and Luna as Jackie and Shadow’s chicks near 1 month old
Friends of Big Bear Valley announced the 2026 bald eaglets of Jackie and Shadow have been named Sandy and Luna, hatched in early April and selected through a community vote that included local third graders and thousands of public submissions.
- Hatch dates: Two eaglets hatched April 4 and 5, 2026; Chick 1 is Sandy, Chick 2 is Luna.
- Community naming: Nearly 64,000 submissions yielded 30 ballot names; third graders cast the deciding votes (Sandy 30, Luna 25).
- Tribute: Sandy honors late FOBBV executive director Sandy Steers, whose name was the most common public suggestion (3,706 entries).
- Growth & behavior: Chicks grew from about 2 ounces to nearly 3 pounds each; staff note subtle behavioral differences between the siblings.
Naming process and community vote
Hatching season at the Big Bear nest is a community event. Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) collected roughly 63,915 name suggestions during a fundraiser and randomly selected 30 gender-neutral names to present on ballots to third-grade classes, chosen to match state learning standards about birds and local ecology.
Third graders across Big Bear Valley cast votes: Sandy won the student ballot with 30 votes; Luna placed second with 25. Runners-up on the student ballot included Star, Chip and Phoenix. The program gives children hands-on experience in wildlife stewardship and connects classrooms to a live conservation project. (Sources: ABC7, LAist.)
A tribute to Sandy Steers
The public’s top submission was the name Sandy, submitted 3,706 times out of roughly 63,915 entries, and FOBBV framed the choice as a tribute to the late executive director Sandy Steers, who launched the Big Bear Eagle Cam in 2015 and led the organization until her death in February after a cancer battle.
“Please know that although Sandy would not have wanted us to outright name one of the eaglets Sandy, she would have been honored that you and the students went through the process and named one of the 2026 eaglets after her.”
FOBBV noted the tribute recognizes Steers’s legacy of public education and the 24-hour live stream that connected millions to the nest. (Sources: ABC7, PopSci.)
Telling Sandy and Luna apart
As the chicks approach one month old, observers note differences. FOBBV staff report Sandy is slightly larger with a bigger head and neck and a small curve to the beak’s gape; she has shown somewhat more submissive behavior during feedings. Luna is smaller and more assertive, engaging in typical sibling “bonking” that has decreased as they bond.
Both chicks have grown dramatically from hatch weights near 2 ounces to roughly 3 pounds each. Their sexes have not yet been determined; descriptions are tentative because eaglet appearance and behavior evolve quickly. (Sources: LAist, PopSci, FOBBV live stream.)
Jackie and Shadow and the eagle-cam era
Jackie and Shadow are a multi-year nesting pair that have drawn sustained attention. The Big Bear Eagle Cam — started by Sandy Steers in 2015 — has provided close-up views for classrooms and viewers worldwide. Last season’s chicks were named Sunny and Gizmo after a similar public-driven process that collected about 54,000 submissions, and the naming tradition links seasons while sustaining public interest in the nest’s outcomes. (Source: LAist.)
Watch the Big Bear Eagle Cam
The nest stream runs 24 hours a day on YouTube; viewers can watch Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam to follow Sandy and Luna’s growth, feedings and interactions. FOBBV posted a name announcement video on its channel and shared the news through local outlets. (Sources: FOBBV YouTube, LAist.)
Implications for San Diego, California
Economic impact: Naming events and the live cam boost regional nature tourism interest, which can prompt San Diego residents to take mountain getaways and support local businesses without large-scale visitation impacts.
Education and outreach: The student ballot model offers a classroom-ready civic science example for San Diego teachers to mirror with live cams, comparative studies of local raptors, or joint conservation projects.
Conservation awareness: Bald eagles remain a conservation success story; community-led efforts like FOBBV’s fundraiser (nearly 64,000 submissions) help sustain monitoring, funding and habitat stewardship.
Community and cultural ties: The Sandy tribute highlights how individuals can create lasting educational platforms that reach beyond a single community, resonating with nonprofit volunteers and educators across the region.
Practical applications: Families and educators can schedule watch sessions, compare eaglet growth to local species, and use updates like name announcements as entry points into longer-term observation and discussion.
Sources and further viewing
- ABC7: Big Bear eaglets officially have names Sandy, Luna
- LAist: Sandy and Luna named for Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets
- PopSci: Jackie and Shadow chicks named Sandy and Luna
- VVNG: Big Bear eaglets named Sandy and Luna following community vote
- FOBBV YouTube: name announcement video and FOBBV channel
Follow the Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam to watch Sandy and Luna grow and see how Jackie and Shadow care for their chicks in real time.
