Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Field Trip

Saturday, March 21, 2026
@ 6:15 am

Please join us to photograph the Bald Eagles of Big Bear Lake, who have built their nest and laid their eggs. If the timing is right and the eggs have hatched, you will witness the parents tending their young – tirelessly flying back and forth all day with freshly caught fish to feed their eaglets until they fledge and are ready to leave the nest. If the eggs have not yet hatched, you will witness the male and female sharing “nest duty”, with the free one flying back and forth feeding the one on “nest duty” with freshly caught fish or “mud hens” who are ducks frozen into Big Bear Lake.

After the female lays the eggs, both parents work together to protect them from harsh weather and potential predators. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs and feeding one another until the eggs hatch. Once the eaglets are born, the parents share the responsibility of bringing food to the nest.

At around 10–12 weeks of age, the young eagles begin to fledge, taking their first flights. This is a gradual process that can last anywhere from two to four weeks. Even after fledging, the juveniles remain nearby for another 12–14 weeks, during which time they learn to hunt independently and continue to strengthen their flying skills. By the end of summer, they typically leave the nest for good and begin life on their own.

The first winter is the most dangerous and challenging period of an eagle’s life. Many do not survive, often due to limited hunting skills and a lack of available food in the territory they settle in. Those that do make it through the winter have learned to hunt effectively and adapt to their environment, and they often go on to live long lives – typically 25 years or more.

Please join us to photograph these magnificent birds in their natural habitat.

Field Trip Leader:
Robert Fletcher | rrfletcher@gmail.com

If you are interested in carpooling, let us know in the RSVP. We’ll leave Coco’s Bakery Restaurant in Redlands at 5:00 am sharp. 1140 W Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92374.