They’re already gone.
A family of internet-famous bald eagles from California saw their last eaglet leave the nest on Saturday, a poignant event witnessed by thousands online.
The young eagle, named Gizmo, embarked on her first flight at 8:27 a.m. on June 7, marking a farewell to her parents, Jackie and Shadow, as she ventured into the vastness of the San Bernardino Mountains, as reported by NBC LA.
“Gizmo did it!,” Friends of Big Bear Valley, who operates the nest camera, said on Facebook.
Born in January 2025, Gizmo took her first leap from a nearby perch, briefly fluttering on the branch before finally taking off into the Californian sky, according to the report.
Even though Gizmo fledged, father Shadow kept her within sight — perching a few branches above the eaglet on a tree near the nest.
Sunny, Gizmo’s older sister, fledged at 10:46 a.m. on June 2, and has delighted eagle-eyed fans with her return visits to see her parents and sister, the report stated.
“Sunny takes flight! Thanks to Friends of Big Bear Valley for sharing this beautiful moment. Wishing Jackie, Shadow and the little eaglets Sunny and Gizmo a wonderful life — may they thrive and soar,” legendary rock artist Steve Miller wrote to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
Friends of Big Bear Valley celebrated the bittersweet occasion that marks the end of a chapter for the family of birds and their fans.
“The last full day in the nest for Sunny and GIzmo may turn out to be Friday, unless they decide to return and the spend the night in the days to come,” the organization said in a statement, adding, “They may come and go for a while but that’s all up to them.”
“All the best to Sunny and Gizmo as they go out and conquer the world!”
