Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
An edhat reader and Santa Barbara resident won a contest to name a baby eagle that lives near Big Bear.
Patti Gutshall, also known as “SBRocks” to edhat readers, entered a contest hosted by The Friends of Big Bear Valley organization who were looking to name a chick that hatched on March 3 this year, in a nest in the San Bernardino National Forest. It was the first healthy chick in two years for Big Bear’s famed bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow.
Thirty-five names were randomly drawn out of nearly 10,000 and sent off to local elementary school classrooms to vote on. The eaglet naming contest is a fundraising effort, requiring a $10-50 donation to submit names.
“The vote is in! With 2641 entries and a total of 9963 names submitted, our eaglet has its forever name! Say hello to Spirit… submitted by Patti G, congratulations Patti!” the nonprofit posted on their Facebook page.
The runner ups were Lil’ Dipper in second place and Hunter in third place.
Spirit is about 5-7 pounds in weight and has a thick coat of dark thermal down which helps the baby stay warm. Several tracts of body feathers (back, shoulders, nape, head) and all flight feathers are now distinct, according to the non-profit.
The group also has a live eagle nest cam where viewers will be able to see Spirit grow and become more active. This includes walking on toes with more confidence, perching on sticks in the nest and grasping nesting materials with its talons, the organization stated.
Congrats to Patti and Spirit!
