Jackie and Shadow welcome two new eaglets at Big Bear Lake nest after fraught season
Big Bear Lake, California – Jackie and Shadow, the famed bald eagle pair, welcomed two new eaglets to their San Bernardino National Forest nest in late March 2026 after a fraught season that included raven predation and a replacement clutch.
- Two chicks hatched from a replacement clutch late March 2026 — one around 9:30 p.m. Saturday and a second just before 9 a.m. Sunday, confirmed by live nest-cam monitoring (Friends of Big Bear Valley; CBS Los Angeles).
- Two eggs were lost earlier after a raven raid; Jackie laid replacements on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 that produced the hatchlings (BigBear.com).
- 24/7 nest-cam and mic captured pipping, chirps and the emergence sequence; volunteers and viewers worldwide followed live (Friends of Big Bear Valley; CBS Los Angeles).
Hatching timeline and what the cameras showed
Volunteers operating the live feed from the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam documented the sequence: an initial external pip was seen on Friday, faint chirps were audible on the nest microphone, and after intermittent shell breaks the first chick pushed free at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Video showed the chick’s head emerging from the shell and prompted an immediate social-media reaction from FOBBV: “The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!” Observers noted that pipping alone is not hatching — full emergence often takes 24–48 hours from first pip (FOBBV; CBS Los Angeles).
The second egg showed a pip Saturday and completed hatching just before 9 a.m. Sunday, about 12 hours after its sibling. Live footage captured a parent sheltering both chicks at sunrise to provide warmth during their first daylight hours (CBS Los Angeles; FOX 11 Los Angeles).
Biology of pipping and early chick care
Pipping describes the moment a chick breaks the egg’s inner membrane, creating a tiny hole to breathe. From that point, the chick slowly works to crack and remove the shell — a demanding process that can span up to two days and requires energy and coordination (CBS Los Angeles).
After hatching, eaglets grow quickly. If feeding and weather conditions are favorable, the chicks are expected to reach roughly three feet in height within about two months. In the early period, parents prioritize warmth, frequent feedings and nest defense — behaviors already observed this season, including Shadow delivering a large fish and defending the nest from a hawk (FOX 11 Los Angeles; BigBear.com).
Nest history, threats and community response
Jackie (est. ~2012) and Shadow (est. ~2014) became household names after the installation of a nest camera by Friends of Big Bear Valley. The pair have raised successful broods in prior years (notably 2019, 2022 and 2025) and produced eaglets such as Sunny and Gizmo in 2025 (Wikipedia; FOBBV).
This season’s setback came when ravens raided the nest, destroying two eggs from the first clutch — a known predation risk for raptors that prompted a replacement clutch later in February.
The replacement eggs laid on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 produced the two hatchlings observed in late March. The live camera continues to be vital for remote viewing, volunteer monitoring and public education while minimizing disturbance to the birds (BigBear.com; FOBBV).
What happens next for the chicks and parents
In coming weeks volunteers and scientists will log feedings, growth rates and parental behavior. Observers will also watch for threats such as scavengers or human disturbance. With normal growth, the chicks should bulk up over two months and later begin practice flights.
Key early indicators to monitor:
- Feeding frequency and prey delivery patterns
- Thermoregulation and brooding behavior by Jackie and Shadow
- Responses to potential nest intruders
Implications for The World
Economic impact: The nest cam draws global viewers and wildlife tourists, benefiting local businesses around Big Bear Lake and supporting wildlife tourism as a niche economy (FOBBV; BigBear.com).
Political and policy consequences: High-profile nests bolster public support for habitat protection, forest management and funding for monitoring programs. The raven raid underscores the value of continued surveillance and potential habitat measures (BigBear.com; FOX 11 Los Angeles).
Social, cultural and practical effects: The live stream creates shared, educational experiences that foster stewardship. Camera programs offer a model for unobtrusive monitoring, data collection and outreach; supporters can help via donations to local groups such as Friends of Big Bear Valley.
Sources and live access
Reporting and live footage were provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley, with recent coverage from CBS Los Angeles and FOX 11 Los Angeles. Background and regional reporting are available via BigBear.com and the Jackie and Shadow Wikipedia entry.
Follow the family live: Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam. Recent reporting and updates: CBS Los Angeles coverage, FOX 11 Los Angeles updates, and background: BigBear.com blog.
