Friends of Big Bear Valley

Friends of Big Bear Valley was founded in July 2001 under the name "Friends of Fawnskin" by Pat Klous and Roman Silberfeld, two environmental advocates in the Big Bear area.

The organization originally focused on the Fawnskin community before expanding its scope to cover all of Big Bear Valley. With the expansion came the current name — Friends of Big Bear Valley — reflecting the broader mission of environmental awareness and protection across the entire valley.

Today, FOBBV is best known worldwide for operating the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Camera, but the organization's work extends far beyond eagles — including habitat protection, community education, and wildlife monitoring throughout the San Bernardino Mountains.

After years of planning and fundraising, FOBBV installed the first nest camera in October 2015 under permits issued by the U.S. Forest Service. The camera system was designed to provide 24/7 livestreaming without disturbing the eagles:

• Solar + battery powered — no external power lines
• Axis Communications camera with 10× optical zoom and infrared night vision
• Specialized tree climber required for 145-foot installation
• Second wide-view camera added in 2021

FOBBV runs a daily "Eagle Log" — monitoring communications documenting nest events and sharing milestones (egg lays, chick development, losses) with the public. These updates are amplified by regional media and shared across social platforms.

The YouTube channels have attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers, with massive viewership peaks during dramatic weather events and the 2023–2024 prolonged incubation season.

FOBBV works in close partnership with federal agencies to protect Big Bear's eagles:

• U.S. Forest Service — Manages the San Bernardino National Forest, issues camera permits, and enforces the seasonal Gray's Peak Area Closure around the nest
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Federal wildlife agency overseeing bald eagle protections under BGEPA and MBTA
• Big Bear Schools — Local 3rd graders have participated in naming eaglets (early seasons), connecting the next generation with conservation
• Licensed Banders — Professional wildlife banders have banded select eaglets (Stormy #JR1, Simba #ZR1, Cookie #ZJ1) for post-fledge tracking

FOBBV has built a remarkably engaged community around the eagle cam:

• Chick Naming: Early years used Big Bear 3rd graders and the Forest Service for name selections. Later seasons expanded to public naming contests with local student voting. Some names honor special community members — Misty was named for volunteer Kathi Misterly who passed away from cancer.
• Outdoor Adventure Days: FOBBV hosts annual community events, including the 10th annual Outdoor Adventure Days during the 2024–2025 season — connecting locals and visitors with Big Bear's natural environment.
• Winter Bald Eagle Count: FOBBV preserves Big Bear's historic winter eagle count tradition (December–March). Early counts averaged 25–30 eagles, later declining to 6–8 before counts were paused.
• Eagle Log: Daily/ongoing monitoring communications sharing real-time nest events with the global community — amplified by regional news coverage.

In 2025, FOBBV named the first-hatched chick "Misty" after Kathi Misterly, a beloved long-time FOBBV volunteer who passed away from cancer. This was a direct FOBBV decision rather than a community vote — a tribute to someone who dedicated countless hours to protecting Big Bear's wildlife.

Though Misty was tragically lost to a snowstorm just 10 days after hatching, the naming ensures Kathi's memory lives on through the eagle story she helped build.