Bald Eaglet Returns Home After Falling From Nest and Learning to Fly

Young Stormy quickly began nuzzling one of his parents after flying back into his nest.

A baby bald eagle who already has an online following has learned to fly and returned to his nest nearly two weeks after falling from it. 

The San Bernardino National Forest posted video of Stormy the eaglet's return home Saturday near Big Bear Lake, east of Los Angeles. The video shows Stormy fly back and quickly begin nuzzling one of his parents after what sounds like distressed or excited squawking.

Stormy and his brother hatched earlier this year in an event watched by nature lovers via an online live feed that's still running. Stormy's brother died after a March storm. 

The camera was installed by the group Friends of Big Bear Valley. The feed caught the moment when Stormy fell from his home on April 26.

The chick fell about 20 feet (6.1 meters) from its perch and landed on a branch in the same pine tree, where his parents have continued feeding him and watching over him, forest officials said. 

Stormy's followers posted about their relief that he was OK on the national forest's Facebook post about his return, with messages that included "Welcome home, Stormy!" and "It's good to see our boy back in his own bed again." 

On Sunday, the live feed showed Stormy relaxing in his nest, looking out over the surrounding wilderness and tentatively taking flight again.

Contact Us