The eagle chick that hatched two months ago near Grout Bay in Fawnskin has apparently decided it was time to leave the nest and seek a new home of its own. On Wednesday the Big Bear Grizzly reported that "Jack" (or is it "Jackie") has been spotted around the Big Bear area, but has not returned to the nest since his departure on April 21. Read more about the eagle chick in the Grizzly, and see a couple of nice photos by local nature photographers Barbara Jordan and Suzanne Klump.
Eagle Hatched in Big Bear Valley
Grout Bay Picnic Area and Gray's Peak Trail Closed Till June 15 A recently hatched baby bald eagle named Jack is the first successful nesting recorded near Big Bear Lake in recent times, according to an article in the Big Bear Grizzly. The chick was born to a pair of eagles, Lucy and Ricky, who nest near Grout Bay. Eagle habitat areas in Big Bear Valley are closed annually from Dec. 1 to April 1. However, to minimize disturbance to this young eagle, the Forest Service is extending the annual seasonal closure beyond the usual April 1 date to June 15. The Forest Order prohibits entry into Grout Bay Picnic Area, Gray’s Peak Trailhead, Gray’s Peak Trail, and the area directly around the bald eagle nest, to allow the chick to grow and learn to fly without human disturbance.