The Internet's Favorite Eagle Parents Just Named Their New Babies

The internet's most watched avian power couple, Jackie and Shadow, have officially named their latest offspring: Sandy and Luna. Because apparently, even bald eagle chicks need names chosen by a public vote.

Students, bless their hearts, sifted through a staggering 63,915 submissions to land on Sandy. This choice is a rather touching nod to Sandy Steers, the late director of Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), who probably would have politely declined such an honor herself. Luna, the second name, just sounds like a wise, all-seeing eagle, which is fitting.

If you're wondering what other names were in the running, imagine a list including Windy, Kazoo, River, and Hazy. One can only assume the eagles themselves were spared the indignity of being called 'Kazoo.' You can, of course, watch Sandy and Luna's every move on the 24/7 livestream, because what else are you doing with your life?

The Drama of the Nest

This nesting season in the San Bernardino National Forest has been, to put it mildly, a rollercoaster. January saw two eggs tragically destroyed by ravens. Which, if you think about it, is just unnecessarily dramatic. But Jackie and Shadow, ever the resilient parents, laid two more eggs, which then successfully hatched. Talk about a comeback story.

Chick 1 made its grand entrance on April 4th, followed by Chick 2 on April 5th. Millions have been glued to the FOBBV livestream, watching this saga unfold from a massive nest in Big Bear Valley, east of Los Angeles. Because who needs reality TV when you have nature, red in tooth and claw, on a 24-hour loop?

Young eaglets are basically tiny, fluffy targets for everything from hawks to snowstorms. Only about 70% make it past their first year, with cars being a surprisingly deadly threat for birds foraging on roads. It's a tough world out there when your dinner might be next to a highway.

Jackie and Shadow have been at this since 2018, with mixed results. They've successfully raised chicks in some years, and in others, their eggs just haven't hatched. It's a 50/50 shot for eagle eggs, so frankly, they're doing pretty well. In 2025, they had three chicks, but a brutal snowstorm took one. The survivors were named Sunny and Gizmo, presumably because they brought a little sunshine and gadgetry to the nest.

Once their wings are strong enough, young eagles fledge, typically between 10 and 14 weeks old. Then they're off, soaring as far as Baja California, British Columbia, or even Yellowstone. FOBBV doesn't tag them, so their post-nest adventures remain a delightful mystery. Which, honestly, is probably for the best. Some things are better left to the imagination, especially if it involves a young eagle named Kazoo.