Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets officially named. Meet Sunny and Gizmo.

The internet-famous eagle chicks formerly known as Bigger Chick and Smaller Chick have officially been named. The names chosen for them are Sunny and Gizmo, respectively. These adorable eaglets made their debut in March alongside their parents, Jackie and Shadow, at their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino mountains, east of Los Angeles, California. The nest is under constant surveillance by cameras operated by the nonprofit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV).

According to FOBBV, a whopping 54,000 names were submitted for the eaglets, and the final decision was made by the third, fourth, and fifth-grade classes at Big Bear Valley elementary schools. They selected the names Sunny and Gizmo from a list of 31 options, which included names like Skye, Crackle, Talon, Blaze, and Bell. This tradition of naming the eaglets after a public vote dates back to Jackie’s parents, Ricky and Lucy.

Sandy Steers, the executive director of FOBBV, shared with Popular Science that the third graders have a special connection with eagles as they study them in their curriculum. A retired biologist from the Forest Service initiated this tradition of involving the youngsters in naming the eaglets.

Determining the sex of bald eagles accurately requires a DNA test, but the team at FOBBV may make an educated guess when the eaglets are around 10 weeks old based on their size, vocal pitch, and other visual cues.

The journey of these eagle chicks has been an emotional rollercoaster for the thousands of viewers who have been following them through the 24-hour livecam. After the disappointment of three unhatched eggs in 2024, the appearance of three eggs in the nest brought hope. The first chick hatched on March 3, followed by the second on March 4, and the third on March 8. Unfortunately, a snowstorm on March 13 led to the loss of one of the chicks, which has been named Misty in memory of an FOBBV volunteer, Kathi Misterly, who recently passed away.

Despite the challenges, Jackie and Shadow continue to care for their surviving chicks, Sunny and Gizmo, with love and dedication. The livecam feed allows viewers to witness these majestic birds as they grow and develop in their natural habitat. The bond between the eaglets and their parents serves as a heartwarming reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature. The advent of technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. With the rise of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, the possibilities seem endless. One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the concept of self-driving cars.

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