Meet Sunny and Gizmo: Jackie and Shadow’s Eaglets Named

Fast Summary

• Two internet-famous bald eagle chicks at big Bear lake,California,have been named Sunny and Gizmo after a naming contest involving local elementary school students.
• The chicks hatched in early March 2025 under the care of parents Jackie and Shadow. Their nest is monitored via a 24/7 live cam by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV).
• Over 54,000 names were submitted for consideration; third to fifth-grade classes voted on their final names from a list of 31 options.
• This tradition dates back to naming previous chicks born to Jackie’s lineage, including Spirit in 2022.
• A snowstorm on March 13 caused the passing of one chick. The deceased chick was later named misty in honor of an FOBBV volunteer who had recently passed away.
• DNA tests can confirm the sex of bald eagles though guesses based on physical traits may be attempted at around ten weeks old.

!Shadow feeding eaglets

!Eaglets growing feathers

!Eagle family tending nest

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The initiative to involve schoolchildren in naming unsuspecting wildlife introduces environmental education creatively. For India-a nation with diverse wildlife-it underscores how grassroots involvement can foster awareness about conservation efforts among young minds. Live monitoring projects like this could serve as inspiration for similar efforts within Indian ecosystems such as Gir National Park (home to Asiatic lions) or Bharatpur bird sanctuary.

While this story revolves around American bald eagles, India’s ecological principles should mirror proactive community engagement witnessed here. Integrating experiential learning about native fauna into school curriculums encourages stewardship pivotal for enduring coexistence between humans and wildlife conservation goals across generations.