By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
After their first clutch of eggs was destroyed by ravens last month, Jackie and Shadow – the Big Bear eagles that are followed by people around the world – have produced a second clutch.
Folks know so much about this family of bald eagles because the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), under the leadership of Sandy Steers, who was its executive director plus a board member of the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust, was able to raise enough funds to install and maintain their eagle nest camera. This was done through donations from people all over the country.
The FOBBV has given people around the world the opportunity to observe the eagles, which has led to a greater understanding of the year-round lives of bald eagles. The Friends of Big Bear Valley was “founded in 2001 as an environmental educational nonprofit dedicated to preserving and conserving the unique forest mountain environment of Big Bear Valley.”
Over the past 20-plus years, a housing and harbor development has been planned called Moon Camp. If built on currently undisturbed forest lands, the project would impact the foraging area the eagles use.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley announced they have been offered one short opportunity to purchase the land and stop this luxury Moon Camp housing and marina development that is planned for that natural area near the north shore of Big Bear Lake by.
They need financial help to purchase this land from the developers for $10 million. This is a fiscal bargain. This section of private forest is adjacent to the national forest and is the area where Jackie and Shadow perch and forage for food. The Moon Camp forested area also includes rare and endangered plant species, as well as rare animals such as flying squirrels. FOBBV has chronicled the project’s 25-year history on a new fundraising website they recently created called SaveMoonCamp.org.
The proposed Moon Camp development is less than one mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest. Over the years, environmental experts have documented that this major housing development would cause “significant detrimental impact” to the lives of the bald eagles. Such a development would greatly impact Jackie and Shadow’s ability to raise chicks, leading to the real possibility they may completely leave the Big Bear area, if this development takes place.
First Jackie laid one egg, then a second in this second clutch.
In September, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the Moon Camp project despite receiving over 5,000 e-mails from the public arguing against the development.
There have been more than two decades of public opposition to this Moon Camp project. Now the developer has agreed to give the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) a limited option to purchase and preserve the Moon Camp land permanently. But one chance only. They have issued a July 31 deadline or they will begin their approved development.
Unfortunately, Sandy Steers passed away on Feb. 11, just after negotiating this purchase deal with the project developers, who own the Moon Camp property. Steers felt this purchase was the most important priority there was for the future of the eagles.
“We need everyone to become Jackie and Shadow’s hero,” said Sandy Steers before her passing. The FOBBV will not own the property if purchased; it will be owned and managed by the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust.
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust is a charitable nonprofit land conservancy that acquires forest open space and wildlife habitat on private lands to prevent development and ensure lasting public benefit of the natural mountain environment within the San Bernardino National Forest.
“Every single bald eagle is an amazing individual being with the right to thrive. Big Bear Valley is the seventh most biologically diverse ecosystem in the country; it is essential that we protect and preserve our unique and rare species,” said Steers in early February. “There are some that exist nowhere else in the world but here. Please help today, tomorrow and the next day. We don’t have much time to protect Jackie and Shadow’s habitat and keep their foraging area from being destroyed.”
This is the most ambitious fundraising effort in FOBBV’s nearly 25-year history. Steers was hoping their 2.4 million social media followers and members will act on Jackie and Shadow’s behalf, as well as the San Bernardino flying squirrels and endangered plant species dependent on the ecosystem. It has been suggested that if each person who enjoys watching the eagles webcam, sponsored by the FOBBV, donated just $5 to $10 each, then the Land Trust would have the funds needed to purchase the land.
The purchase agreement states: The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) has entered into a limited Purchase Option Agreement to buy the land and to save the eagles’ foraging area on the undisturbed North Shore for $10 million. The funds need to be raised before July 31. After the sale, the Moon Camp land will be in permanent conservatorship next to United States Forest Service (USFS) land.
“This quiet, dark-skies community has amazing biodiversity that makes it unique in the world. These species, including Jackie and Shadow, deserve to have their habitat preserved for the long-term benefit of everyone,” said Steers.
For more information on the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust, visit https://sbmlt.net. And to donate to the purchase of this land, visit SaveMoonCamp.org.
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