Local Students And Global Supporters Unite To Name Jackie And Shadow’s Eaglets
Big Bear, California (High Desert News Online) – In a heartwarming display of community spirit and environmental awareness, the two surviving bald eagle chicks of Big Bear Lake’s famous eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have been officially named Sunny and Gizmo. The announcement follows a naming contest that garnered over 54,000 submissions from around the world, culminating in votes from local elementary school students. The event highlights the growing connection between wildlife conservation efforts and public engagement.
Global Effort with Local Roots
The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), which oversees the livestream camera capturing Jackie and Shadow’s daily lives, organized the contest in late March as part of a fundraiser to support their environmental initiatives. Participants were invited to submit names along with donations, generating an overwhelming response from eagle enthusiasts globally. From the thousands of entries, 30 finalists were selected at random.
The final decision rested with Big Bear Valley elementary school students in grades 3 through 5, who cast their votes earlier this week. The larger eaglet was named Sunny, reflecting the bright skies over Big Bear Lake, while the smaller chick earned the playful name Gizmo, possibly inspired by the beloved character from the 1984 film Gremlins.
Community Involvement: A Key to Conservation
This year’s naming process was particularly significant for local students. Traditionally, only third graders participated in naming eaglets; however, fourth and fifth graders were included this time due to previous years’ eggs failing to hatch. Sandy Steers, Executive Director of FOBBV, expressed delight at the enthusiasm shown by both students and global participants: “We’re thrilled by how excited people were for the chance to name these two adorable chicks. The students had tons of fun voting for their favorite names while learning about Jackie and Shadow’s lives”.
The winners who submitted Sunny and Gizmo will receive certificates recognizing their contributions. Additionally, FOBBV honored a third chick that sadly did not survive a winter storm by naming it Misty in memory of Kathi Misterly, a dedicated volunteer who passed away from cancer.
Why This Matters: Conservation Success Story
The bald eagle’s journey from near extinction to thriving populations is one of America’s most remarkable conservation success stories. Decimated by habitat loss, illegal hunting, and DDT contamination during the mid-20th century, bald eagles were listed as endangered under federal law in 1967. Thanks to habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act and public efforts to ban harmful pesticides like DDT, their numbers rebounded dramatically.
Today, bald eagles are no longer endangered but remain protected under various laws. Their resurgence is evident in California, where nesting pairs have steadily increased across the state’s lakes and forests—including Big Bear Lake. Events like this naming contest not only celebrate these majestic birds but also inspire communities to continue supporting wildlife preservation.
Sunny and Gizmo: A Bright Future Ahead
Sunny and Gizmo are currently thriving under their parents’ care. Viewers worldwide have watched them grow from feisty hatchlings into energetic chicks through FOBBV’s livestream camera. In just weeks, they will begin fledging—spreading their wings for their first flights over Big Bear Valley.
For residents of California’s High Desert area and beyond, these eaglets symbolize hope for wildlife conservation and serve as a reminder of how collective efforts can protect our natural heritage.
As bald eagle populations continue to recover across California and the nation, initiatives like FOBBV’s naming contest underscore the importance of connecting communities with nature—one chick at a time.
