After weeks of anticipation, the famous bald eagle chicks of Big Bear have officially been named! These beloved eaglets, born to the well-known eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have captured the hearts of thousands through live-streamed nest cams. Nature enthusiasts and bird watchers alike have followed their journey from hatchlings to growing chicks. Now, with their names announced, these little icons of the wild are soaring into the next chapter of their lives.
Meet Sunny and Gizmo!
Today, Friends of Big Bear Valley announced that local elementary students have chosen Sunny and Gizmo from a list of thirty finalist names. The voting took place on Tuesday, April 1, with 3rd through 5th-grade students at Big Bear Elementary casting their ballots.
The bigger chick is named Sunny, and the smaller chick is named Gizmo. The name with the most votes was given to the larger chick, while the runner-up name went to the smaller chick.
Eagle Chick Naming Contest
As part of the naming process, the public was invited to submit name suggestions along with donations to support a fundraiser for Friends of Big Bear Valley. From the pool of international submissions, Friends of Big Bear Valley randomly selected thirty finalist names and provided students with ballots to vote.
Finalist Name List
The thirty finalist names included: Skye, Crackle, Griffen, Cloud, Sully, Arden, Riley, Raine, Striker, Hutch, Branch, Gizmo, Liberty, Star, Jade, Charlie, Talon, Cloudy, Blaze, Valor, Gilly, Jalen, Talie, Bell, Sassy, Passion, Swift, Destiny, Flyer, and Sunny.
The Executive Director of FOBBV, Sandy Steers, announced, “We’re thrilled by how excited people were for the chance to name these two adorable chicks. And the Big Bear elementary students had tons of fun voting for their favorite names.”
The beloved Big Bear eaglets, watched and beloved by thousands around the world, now have joyful names to match their soaring legacy.