Big Bear eaglets officially named Sandy and Luna after student vote; one honors late conservation leader
Big Bear Lake’s famous bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow have two 2026 eaglets officially named Sandy and Luna after a community-wide process in which local third-grade students cast the deciding votes to choose the winners.
- Names chosen by students: Local third-grade classes selected Sandy and Luna from 30 finalists after nearly 64,000 public submissions.
- Tribute: Sandy honors longtime Friends of Big Bear Valley leader Sandy Steers, who launched the nest cam in 2015.
- Live stream & outreach: A 24-hour nest cam lets viewers follow Jackie, Shadow, Sandy and Luna; the stream is hosted by FOBBV’s YouTube nest cam.
How the names were chosen
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) collected name suggestions as part of a fundraiser and received 63,915 gender-neutral entries because the chicks’ sexes were not yet determined. FOBBV randomly selected 30 options from that pool and distributed ballots to local third-grade classes. Students cast the deciding votes: Sandy received 30 votes and Luna received 25 votes. Runners-up included Star, Chip and Phoenix.
This mirrors last season’s program, when students named eaglets Sunny and Gizmo after roughly 54,000 public submissions; reporting and background on the selection process are available via LAist and Popular Science.
A Sandy Steers tribute eaglet
The top public submission was Sandy with 3,706 entries, a clear sign of local affection. The name honors Sandy Steers, longtime executive director of FOBBV who launched the Big Bear eagle cam in 2015 and who died in February 2026 after a battle with cancer. In announcing the names, FOBBV noted community wishes to honor Steers while respecting her humility:
“Please know that although Sandy would not have wanted us to outright name one of the eaglets Sandy, she would have been honored that you and the students went through the process and named one of the 2026 eaglets after her.”
Local coverage of the tribute and naming announcement includes reporting from ABC7, LAist, and Popular Science.
What the chicks are like now
The chicks hatched on April 4 and April 5, 2026, each weighing roughly 2 ounces at hatch and growing rapidly. FOBBV reports each eaglet is now nearing 3 pounds. Observers note subtle differences:
- Sandy (Chick 1): Larger overall, with a bigger head and neck and a slight curve to the gape; tends to be more submissive.
- Luna (Chick 2): Slightly smaller and more assertive; sibling “bonking” — sparring — has eased as they bond.
FOBBV cautions that these differences are subtle and may change as the eaglets mature; local reporting on behavior and growth includes Valley News Group and LAist.
Why the naming program matters
The campaign does more than assign names: it fosters community ties to wildlife work and funds conservation programs. Public submissions supported FOBBV’s programs and the 24-hour nest cam — now a major outreach tool. The student vote engages young people directly in local nature and conservation education, strengthening civic ties to environmental stewardship.
How to watch Jackie, Shadow, Sandy and Luna
Eagle watchers worldwide can follow the family on the 24-hour nest cam hosted by FOBBV. Watch live on FOBBV’s YouTube channel for continuous views of the nest, feeding events, growth milestones, and social behavior. The stream has run since 2015 after Steers helped launch it and is a primary tool for researchers, students, and the public.
Source notes and reporting
This article draws on reporting and statements from Friends of Big Bear Valley and local outlets. Key sources include:
- ABC7 coverage of the name announcement
- Popular Science overview of the naming process and nest-cam history
- LAist story on community participation and the Steers tribute
- Valley News Group coverage of the vote results
- Official FOBBV live stream
Implications for the Imperial Valley
Economic impact: Interest in the nest cam can boost regional tourism and bookings as viewers plan visits to nature sites; national audiences sometimes support local nonprofits that run conservation programs.
Political consequences: The student voting model offers a nonpartisan template for civic engagement and may encourage lawmakers to back similar educational grants or habitat-protection measures.
Social and cultural effects: The naming program provides a school-based template for conservation education and highlights how community leaders — like Sandy Steers — shape local stewardship and memory.
Practical applications: Imperial Valley educators can stream the nest cam during lessons on life cycles and ecosystems; nonprofits can study FOBBV’s fundraising and engagement model for their own campaigns.
Ongoing watch points for local audiences
- Growth and health: Track weight and behavior milestones through FOBBV updates and the nest cam.
- Community engagement: Schools and groups interested in naming or citizen-science projects can contact FOBBV to learn from this year’s ballot and submission process (Popular Science overview).
- Tribute programming: Organizations seeking to honor local conservation leaders can use the Sandy Steers tribute as a model (LAist coverage).
Watch the Big Bear Lake bald eagles live on the FOBBV nest cam at FOBBV’s YouTube channel. For more reporting on the naming and the chicks, see ABC7, Popular Science, LAist, and Valley News Group.
