Big Bear Eagles Jackie and Shadow Welcome Two Eaglets After Harrowing Season
Beloved Big Bear Lake bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow have hatched two eaglets — one emerged about 9:30 p.m. April 4 and the second just before 9 a.m. April 5 — after an earlier clutch loss this season.
- Two eaglets hatched: first ~9:30 p.m. April 4; second just before 9 a.m. April 5.
- Parents: Jackie (female) and Shadow (male), monitored by Friends of Big Bear Valley.
- Earlier losses: initial clutch suffered predation by ravens; a replacement clutch was laid Feb. 24 and Feb. 27.
- Live updates: nest cam audio and video documented pipping, chirps and the gradual hatching process.
Hatching timeline and live-stream details
Viewers watching the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam observed the first external pip on Friday — a small crack accompanied by faint chirps on the nest microphone. The pip indicates the chick has broken the inner membrane and begun breathing; it can take 24–48 hours to complete the hatch. The first eaglet finished hatching at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, and the second fully emerged just before 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, roughly 12 hours later.
Updates and coverage appeared on local outlets, including Fox LA, and on Friends of Big Bear Valley‘s live feed and social posts.
Behavior after hatching
Once free from their shells, the chicks were kept warm and sheltered by Jackie and Shadow. On Sunday morning a parent covered the new eaglets shortly after they were briefly exposed to sunlight. Parents will continue to brood, guard and feed the neonates frequently while they grow.
“The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!” — Friends of Big Bear Valley live update
Growth and care notes
Eaglets grow rapidly; FOBBV notes they can reach about three feet in just over two months. The piping process is critical and often noisy — it can be tiring and may require patience from watchers as chicks finish hatching over a day or two. Parents must feed nestlings frequently and protect them from potential predators such as ravens and hawks.
History of Jackie and Shadow’s nesting, raven predation and nest security
Jackie and Shadow — born around 2012 and 2014 — have been public fixtures since the nest camera went live in 2018. They successfully raised young in previous seasons, including 2019, 2022 and 2025. This season the first clutch produced four eggs, with two reportedly destroyed by ravens; the pair then laid a replacement clutch on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27.
Raven predation highlighted the vulnerability of eggs when adults are away. Nest cams provide valuable data on timing and patterns of predation that can inform local managers and volunteers. Coverage and reporting on the losses and re-nesting appeared on outlets such as ABC7 and local blogs like BigBear.com, alongside background information compiled on Wikipedia.
Public engagement and stewardship
The nest cam has drawn global attention: thousands tune in to watch courtship, incubation, pipping and hatching. That engagement often translates into local stewardship — donations, volunteer habitat work and support for raptor rehabilitation. Friends of Big Bear Valley manages the camera and posts updates to help fans stay informed while protecting the birds’ space.
Implications for Walla Walla, Washington
- Economic: birding and nature tourism driven by interest in successful eagle nests can benefit local outfitters, guides and lodges.
- Political: the hatch underscores community-led, science-based habitat protections favored by many local stakeholders.
- Social & cultural: the story provides family-friendly, apolitical lessons about resilience, parental care and community pride.
- Practical: managers and landowners can adopt best practices — signage, buffer zones and coordination with state wildlife offices — to protect nesting raptors.
Ongoing watch and what to expect next
In the coming weeks, observers will track feeding frequency, parental shifts and any interactions with predators. The nest cam will remain key to monitoring growth milestones, parental behavior and the timing of fledging. For now, the hatch is a hopeful sign for the species and a reminder of community-backed conservation’s impact.
Source notes and transparency
Reporting here relies on live-stream observations and updates from Friends of Big Bear Valley, local news coverage by Fox LA and ABC7, background compiled from Wikipedia, and local park and community reporting like BigBear.com. For live viewing and archives, see Friends of Big Bear Valley and local coverage linked above.
