Govind Tekale
Big Bear Valley’s famous bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow have successfully hatched two eaglets, with their third egg showing promising signs of hatching.
The first eaglet emerged late on March 3, 2025, with the second following in the early hours of March 4. The third egg is currently in the “pipping” stage, with visible cracks indicating the chick inside is working to break free.
Today at 10:21 we spotted Pip movement in the third egg. You can see the chick's beak moving inside the egg. At 10:53…
Posted by Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam on Thursday 6 March 2025
This hatching marks a welcome success for the pair after recent failed attempts. In 2023, ravens ate their eggs, while extreme cold or low oxygen levels may have prevented hatching in 2024. Their last successful hatchling, named Spirit, was born on March 3, 2022.
Live Cam Draws Massive Audience
The nest, perched 145 feet high in a Jeffrey pine tree in the San Bernardino Mountains, has become an internet sensation thanks to a live camera operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley. The nonprofit began streaming the eagles’ daily activities in 2015.
“People got attached to Jackie and Shadow,” said Sandy Steers, Executive Director of Friends of Big Bear Valley. Viewers have formed emotional connections with the birds, often comparing the eagles’ interactions to their own relationships.
When the second hatchling arrived, nearly 72,000 people were watching the live feed—a crowd that wouldn’t fit into Dodger Stadium.
Parenting in Action
Both Jackie and Shadow are demonstrating attentive parenting, taking turns feeding the chicks small bits of fish and protecting them from potential threats.
“I saw one of them take some food,” noted Lori Arent, interim director at the Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota, after watching the live feed. “They’re acting very typically for eaglets of their age at this point.”
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Bob Mulvihill, ornithologist at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, expressed optimism about the eaglets’ prospects: “They may manage to raise all three out of the nest.”
Development Timeline
Jackie laid the first egg on January 22, 2025, followed by the second on January 25 and the third on January 28. The hatching process began about five weeks later, with the first pip (crack) spotted on March 2.
“It takes a lot of energy for them to pip the eggshell and then actually crack the rest so they can hatch,” explained Arent.
The eaglets are currently covered in soft gray down. Feathers will begin to appear in about 24 days. They’ll start flying at 10-12 weeks of age and permanently leave the nest about a month after that.
Conservation Success Story
These hatchings represent part of a broader wildlife conservation story. As Mulvihill noted, “Eagles are long-lived birds, and they’re in it for the long haul. They have a low annual reproductive output but over the course of their lifetime they more than replace themselves in the population.”
Community Involvement
Local third-graders will have the honor of naming the eaglets through a contest organized by Friends of Big Bear Valley. The eagles’ previous successful hatchling from 2022 was named Spirit through a similar community process.
For those interested in watching the eagle family, the nest cam remains available on the Friends of Big Bear Valley YouTube channel, with updates posted to their Facebook page.
FAQ
How can I watch Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets?
You can watch the eagle family live on the Friends of Big Bear Valley YouTube channel. Updates are also posted regularly on their Facebook page.
How long until the eaglets leave the nest?
The eaglets will remain in the nest for 10-14 weeks before they begin to fly. They’ll permanently leave the nest about a month after their first flight.
What happened to Jackie and Shadow’s previous eggs?
The pair successfully hatched one chick named Spirit in 2022. In 2023, their eggs were eaten by ravens. In 2024, they had three eggs but none hatched, possibly due to extreme cold or low oxygen levels.
When did Jackie lay these eggs?
Jackie laid the first egg on January 22, 2025, followed by the second on January 25 and the third on January 28. The eggs took about 35 days to begin hatching.
How will the eaglets be named?
Local Big Bear third-graders will name the eaglets through a contest organized by Friends of Big Bear Valley, with suggestions coming from the public.
What do baby eagles eat?
The eaglets are currently being fed tiny bits of fish by their parents. As they grow, their appetites will increase dramatically, requiring both parents to hunt and bring food to the nest.
