Big Bear Lake, CA, March 9, 2012, 3:00pm – The San Bernardino National Forest says a pair of bald eagles have successfully nested and produced a chick near Big Bear Lake. The new chick was born sometime around February 11th and his nickname is Jack, to honor one of the most dedicated eagle count volunteers, Jack Lubecki, who passed away a couple of years ago. The chick was born to a pair of eagles known as Lucy & Ricky who built a nest near Grout Bay in Fawnskin several years ago. To minimize disturbance to the young eagle, the Forest is extending the annual seasonal closure to June 15th. The “Forest Order” prohibits entry into the Grout Bay Picnic Area, Gray’s Peak Trailhead and Trail, and the area directly around the bald eagle nest, to allow the chick to grow and learn to fly without human disturbance. For over thirty years, the San Bernardino National Forest has maintained winter closures of its facilities in the Fawnskin area in order to provide disturbance-free perching and foraging areas for bald eagles. Several organizations have come together to help protect this bald eagle nest, including the San Bernardino National Forest, National Forest Association (NFA), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Bernardino County Parks and Recreation Department, and Big Bear Municipal Water District. The Forest Service and Fish & Game plan to use volunteers to both monitor the nest sites and provide the public with opportunities to view the eagles from a safe distance. (photo courtesy of USFS Wildlife Biologist Robin Eliason)
[audio:https://kbhr933.com/wp-content/uploads/SP31404.mp3|titles=Eagle Chick]
