Big Bear Bald Eagle Eggs To Hatch: WATCH

BIG BEAR LAKE, CA -- Two bald eagle eggs at Big Bear Lake are expected to hatch Saturday. The expected arrival of the birds is being documented through a webcam by the Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Officials said an eagle laid the eggs in January, and that the eggs typically take about 35 days to hatch.

“This is part of the story of bald eagle population recovery nationwide. Only a few decades ago, bald eagles were considered an endangered species,” said Robin Eliason, a U.S. Forest Service biologist. “We think these are the first eggs laid by this young female. We do not know for sure because she’s not banded, but some of us are convinced that the female is the first bald eagle recorded to be hatched in the San Bernardino Mountains, which was in 2012.”

Because bald eagles will abandon nests if disturbed, the Forest Service has closed the area to all public entry through June 22, the duration of the nesting season.

Four eagles, including the nesting pair, were spotted around Big Bear Lake by 35 citizen scientists at the December bald eagle count. Nine total were spotted at all eagle count sites, which are located at six different lakes throughout the Inland Empire in San Bernardino National Forest and at two California State Park sites.

Watch the webcam below.

--Photo via U.S. Forest Service