Sunny, the eaglet from the Big Bear family, fledged from her nest for the first time on Monday, captivating viewers of the live webcam. While this marks a significant milestone, it also brings a sense of bittersweet farewell for fans. Parents Jackie and Shadow will stay close, assisting Sunny in her search for food and protection during her transition into independence. The journey ahead is challenging, as young bald eagles face a less than 50% survival rate during their first year due to inexperience, underlining the vulnerability of young eagles in the wild.
"It's exciting to have this beautiful, successful moment - and, at the same time, sad that we won't be seeing her as much anymore," said Sandy Steers.
"Parents Jackie and Shadow will be following the eaglet around, protecting her and helping her find food for anywhere between a few weeks and a few months," Steers said.
"The first year of life can be perilous for an eagle. Thanks to its inexperience, a juvenile bald eagle has less than a 50% chance of surviving," according to the American Eagle Foundation.
"Eaglets usually fledge at 10 to 14 weeks of age. Up until Monday, both eaglets had been practicing venturing out onto tree limbs, where they would flap their wings and bounce."
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