Sandy Steers Speaks Out About The Fireworks
Sandy Steers has posted and made a statement on the Friends of Big Bear Valley social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and hopefully soon on their TikTok page) and Sandy shared the same post in the FOBBV private Facebook group.
Read Sandy's post below:
Eagles and Fireworks…
Our eagles are still in the area--Shadow was on the nest yesterday afternoon and on Twin Pines with Jackie before that. One of the adults was spotted ¼ mile from the nest, followed by a raven and photographed by Mike Marzell, fishing charter captain. Friday morning, Sunny and Gizmo were circling together over the lake. Then one of them landed on the Twin Pines before heading out to their next destination. And Jackie and Shadow roosted together last night.
As Gizmo and Sunny venture out, still learning and being tracked and fed by Jackie and Shadow, the cameras will spot them less, but might get glimpses. In addition to the eagles there are also lots of juvenile hawks and other fledgling birds and junior wildlife all over the valley this time of year.
Sadly, Visit Big Bear and their agency and community partners are standing by their decision to blast off July 4 fireworks in Big Bear this Friday. We have tried speaking with them, all but begging, showing documented proof of Jackie and Shadow leaving the area for days, explaining how fireworks do major damage, not just to birds and wildlife, but to the lake with pollution, the ducks and their babies, the overall environment and humans breathing the air polluted by the event, as well as pets and PTSD humans.
Shadow and Jackie leaving at this time of training and growth for Sunny and Gizmo could be especially devastating to the juveniles’ long and short-term development and chances of survival. Eagles and especially juveniles have very poor night vision and being startled into flight at night is very dangerous.
We created a presentation about all of this, and gave it to the Visit Big Bear directors in 2023. https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dangers-of-Fireworks.pdf? VBB has a huge opportunity to be the heroes of the world for the eagles and to lead the way of truly caring for nature, but they have chosen a different path. They have made a few changes over the years, but as an organization, they claim in their PR and website to be stewards of the environment.
The dictionary says ‘Stewardship’ is ‘the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.’ We have sincere hope that VBB will listen to the words on their Care for Big Bear website page:
“Do not be wise in words - be wise in deeds. Jewish Proverb”
As a lover of all nature, I am sad to see the devastation created for 30 minutes of instant gratification, usually forgotten within hours. We will be holding high hope for the safety of Jackie, Shadow, Sunny and Gizmo and all the rest of nature’s beautiful creatures.
Please join me in hoping for their safety and protection.
Sandy
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Just a reminder. DO NOT PRESS THE BELOW RED BUTTON.
The RED button will direct you to donate to Change.org, NOT Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV). Instead, if you would like to donate, please donate directly to Friends of Big Bear Valley on their website which is the ONLY way to donate to our Bald Eagle Family (Shadow, Jackie, Sunny and Gizmo).