Govind Tekale
In a remarkable turn of events, Jackie and Shadow, Big Bear Valley’s celebrated bald eagle pair, welcomed their third eaglet on March 8, 2025. The hatching occurred during a snowstorm, showcasing the incredible resilience of these majestic birds.
The newest addition to the family emerged early Saturday morning after more than 40 hours of breaking through its shell. “And at today’s early morning feeding at 6:13 am, Chick #3 was presented to the world!” announced Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) on their Facebook page.
This success story follows years of disappointment for the eagle pair. In 2023, ravens ate their eggs, and in 2024, severe cold weather prevented another trio of eggs from hatching. They had previously raised chicks successfully in 2019 and 2022.
A Global Audience Watches
The hatching process has captivated thousands of viewers through a 24-hour livestream operated by FOBBV. The nonprofit conservation group has monitored the avian couple for a decade, with their YouTube channel recently seeing record viewership. More than 99,000 people were watching live as the eaglet worked through the hatching process.
Sandy Steers, Executive Director of FOBBV, confirmed the surge in viewers as people from around the world tuned in to witness this rare natural event.
Similar Posts:
The Hatching Process
Wildlife experts note that the hatching process for bald eagles is strenuous. The chicks use an “egg tooth” to break through the shell in what’s called a “pip” – the first crack in the egg. The third eaglet’s pip was first spotted Thursday morning, with the chick becoming visible around 2:11 a.m. Saturday when most of the shell was gone.
Peter Sharpe, a wildlife biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies who manages Jackie and Shadow’s camera system, explained what comes next for the new family: “They’ll just pretty much eat and poop and sleep for the next few weeks. Basically, they’re just going to be growing feathers and sitting around for most of the next six to seven weeks.”
Family Dynamics
Some sibling rivalry – known as “bonking” – has been observed between the older chicks, but FOBBV notes this behavior usually eases once a pecking order is established. With plenty of food available from Big Bear Lake and attentive parents, the competition hasn’t been too problematic.
The eaglets will begin to fledge (develop wing feathers for flight) when they’re around 10 to 12 weeks old. “Males tend to take their first soar a little sooner,” Sharpe noted, “potentially because they’re smaller than the females. Some birds don’t fly till they’re 16 weeks old or something. I don’t know if they’re scared or what.”
Conservation Success
While not directly mentioned in the source articles, bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery across the United States in recent decades. Jackie and Shadow’s successful hatching of three eaglets in one season adds another chapter to this ongoing conservation story.
The breeding success of this famous pair not only delights their online audience but also captures public interest in wildlife conservation as thousands continue to follow the eaglets’ development.
FAQ
