Big Bear’s bald eagle fledglings will face Fourth of July fireworks — again

The skies of Big Bear will light up with Fourth of July fireworks Saturday, reigniting concerns about how the colorful explosions could affect the famous bald eagle family who live nearby.

Jackie and Shadow, the resident eagle couple, have been spooked by the celebration in years past and left the area for days at a time, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the environmental nonprofit that runs a popular YouTube livestream of the nest.

But it’ll be the first time their fledglings, Sandy and Luna, have experienced fireworks — less than a week after they flew away from the nest for the first time.

The main risk is that the bald eagles could try to flee the flashes and noises at night when they can’t see well, according to Jenny Voisard, the nonprofit’s media manager. Flying at night could cause collision-related injuries.

“It's not knowing what [Sandy and Luna are] supposed to be doing outside of the nest, knowing where they are, knowing where they're going, if they get separated from their parents or each other it could cause an issue,” Voisard told LAist. “There's a road right there. So, there's just lots of dangers.”

Visit Big Bear said the decision to move forward with the show was not made lightly, but it’s an “important economic driver” and long-standing tradition for the community’s businesses, restaurants and workers.

“That context is especially important this year after another low-to-no snow winter, which directly impacted many of our neighbors, employees, and small businesses,” Visit Big Bear said in a statement. “Big Bear’s tourism ecosystem is fragile too, and the Fourth of July holiday is part of the broader effort to help our community recover heading into the summer season.”

How could it affect the eagles?

Bald eagles face a lot of challenges early on — about 70% survive their first year of life.

Peter Sharpe,  a wildlife biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies and Sharpe Wildlife Consulting, told LAist previously that bald eagles are primarily scavengers for their first year. The biggest issues for the young birds include getting hit by a car while they’re feeding on roadkill, flying into power lines, or lead poisoning from eating something with bullet fragments.

For example, two of the Big Bear nest’s previous eaglets, Stormy and Simba, were found dead in different parts of California about a year after fledging. They were identified based on the numbers they were banded with as chicks, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley records.

Voisard said “it's very difficult to become an adult bald eagle,” and the risks are amplified with fireworks.

Sandy and Luna are also still “100% dependent on their parents” at this stage, Voisard said. Jackie and Shadow weren’t seen or heard in the area for three days after the 2023 fireworks and six days in 2022, according to the nonprofit.

More than 43,000 people have signed a petition urging Big Bear to relocate the fireworks and consider other celebrations like drone shows (the petition is not from Friends of Big Bear Valley). Similar displays have been canceled this year in other parts of the country following concerns for nearby bald eagle nests, including in Madison, Wisconsin and Long Island, New York.

What are organizers saying?

Visit Big Bear said it recognizes the deep passion people have for the bald eagles that have become an important part of the community’s identity.

“The Big Bear community has coexisted with its wildlife, including bald eagles, for generations,” the organization said in a statement. “That responsibility is not new. It is part of daily life here, and it is a responsibility we take seriously.”

According to Visit Big Bear, the barge the fireworks are launched from is about 2 miles away from Jackie and Shadow’s nesting area and the show is scheduled to finish in under half an hour.

The organization said it’s also working to “reduce the loudest booms where possible” and that clean up efforts will take place when it’s over.