Missing Big Bear Valley Eaglet Is 'Sadly' Dead Inside Nest Bowl: Experts

BIG BEAR, CA — A group of California conservationists announced Saturday that they were sad to inform the public that it appears that the growing family of bald eagles in Big Bear Valley lost one eaglet.

"We are sad to let everyone know that one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks did not make it through the severe winter storm that brought over two feet of snow to the area," Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote on Facebook Saturday afternoon. "The chick’s passing happened sometime after all three were observed together getting fed at 6 p.m. on [Thursday]."

In the statement, the group said, "We do not know what happened or why it passed. The shorter snow berm now makes that chick partially visible in the nest bowl, on the right side. We do not know which chick it was because they were very close in size."

The eaglets have captured the attention of the public with the help of a webcam fixed on their nest.

"We understand completely how hard this is to hear," the group said. "Please allow yourself to grieve and feel whatever you feel. Please honor the chick for its courage in getting as far as it did and doing whatever it came to do."

Patch previously reported that over 70,000 viewers turned to the Friends of Big Bear Valley's eagle's nest YouTube video Friday morning to see only two eaglets being fed by their mama eagle, and the concerned comments flooded the chat as naturalists tried to keep up.

All three eggs hatched ahead of last week's storm and were seen being fed and cared for by Jackie and Shadow, but at the end of the week, only two eaglets were seen eating bits of fish, then snow flurries returned.

Follow Patch for more updates on the chicks.