Rahul Somvanshi
Two fluffy eaglets have emerged at the famous Big Bear Lake nest, with bald eagles Jackie and Shadow becoming parents again after two challenging seasons. The hatching process, captured live on the 24/7 eagle cam operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FBBV), has drawn millions of viewers worldwide to witness this critical conservation milestone.
Hatching Timeline and Technical Details
The first eaglet emerged at 11:26 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2025 (Day 35 of incubation), following a “pip” (initial shell crack) observed Sunday afternoon. The hatching wasn’t instantaneous—the chick’s beak appeared mid-morning Monday, followed by audible chirps, then wing and head visibility before complete emergence.
The second eaglet followed at 4:29 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3 (Day 37 for that egg), after what observers call “zippering”—the final hatching stage where the chick uses its egg tooth to create a nearly straight crack line around the shell while spinning inside.
As of March 4, the third egg remains at Day 35 of incubation with no visible pip. Sandy Steers, biologist and executive director of FBBV, notes: “The third egg, well as of today (Tuesday), the end of today, is only 35 days old and they don’t hatch until at least 35, so there’s still time.”
FBBV continues to monitor the third egg closely. Bald eagle eggs typically hatch between Days 35-42, giving this egg until approximately March 10 to successfully hatch.
Biological Challenges and Survival Factors
The newly hatched eaglets face several critical biological challenges:
- Thermoregulation: Without waterproof feathers (which develop around 6 weeks post-hatching), eaglets depend entirely on parental body heat.
- Weather vulnerability: The eaglets are susceptible to harsh weather conditions, including snow and rain.
- Space constraints: As noted by Steers, “space under mom gets tight if all three eggs hatch.”
“Hopefully there’s no bad weather after they get too big to stay underneath Jackie or Shadow, but (they) don’t have their waterproof feathers yet. It will take about six weeks before they get their waterproof feathers,” explains Steers.
Growth happens rapidly—these currently tiny chicks will reach over three feet in height within just 10-14 weeks before fledging (first flight). During this period, both parents will hunt continuously to provide sufficient nourishment.
During this critical development period, eaglets face various survival challenges, including competition for food and parental attention. Jackie and Shadow will need to work tirelessly to ensure their offspring receive adequate nourishment.
Historical Context and Previous Nesting Seasons
This successful hatching follows two disappointing seasons for the eagle pair:
- 2019: Successfully raised “Spirit,” who fledged and left the nest
- 2022: Successfully raised “Sunny,” now thriving in the wild
- 2023-2024: Three eggs laid in January 2024 failed to hatch, likely due to embryonic developmental issues
FBBV reports suggest temperature fluctuations, humidity levels, and high-altitude oxygen conditions potentially contributed to previous failures. The 2025 success exceeds typical wild bald eagle hatch rates, which USFWS data shows hover between 50-60%.
Conservation Impact and Monitoring Technology
The FBBV eagle cam, installed in 2013, has drawn millions of viewers worldwide. The live-streaming capabilities provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley have allowed nature enthusiasts to witness the hatching process in real-time.
This monitoring contributes valuable data to larger conservation efforts. California’s bald eagle population has rebounded from just 30 breeding pairs in 1977 to over 500 pairs currently, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) statistics.
Despite this recovery, eagles face ongoing threats:
- Weather impacts: Fluctuating temperatures and snow can affect eaglet survival during their development
- Habitat challenges: Human activity and environmental changes can disrupt nesting behaviors
- Food availability: Parents must hunt continuously to provide sufficient nourishment for growing eaglets
The Big Bear nest in the San Bernardino National Forest has become world-famous, drawing attention to this important wildlife habitat.
Educational and Community Impact
The eagle cam has transformed into an educational resource used by schools across 30 U.S. states. FBBV’s “Eagle Edu” program recorded 5,000+ student sign-ups in 2024 alone.
The hatching event has drawn widespread public interest, with updates regularly shared on social media platforms like Facebook. The eagle cam has become an important tool for raising awareness about wildlife preservation and fostering community involvement in conservation efforts.
Expert Perspectives on Conservation Significance
Sandy Steers, biologist and executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, continues to monitor the situation closely: “I’m excited and just over the moon,” Steers said regarding the successful hatchings.
Ongoing Protection Measures
While removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007, bald eagles remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, with penalties up to $250,000 for nest disturbances.
Bald eagles remain protected under federal law, with safeguards in place to prevent nest disturbances that could harm these majestic birds or their offspring.
How to Follow the Eagles
The eaglets’ progress can be monitored through the Friends of Big Bear Valley livestream, which runs 24/7, capturing key developmental milestones as the chicks grow. Within 10-14 weeks, these tiny birds will transform from fluffy chicks to eagles over three feet tall, preparing for their eventual first flight.
For more information about Big Bear’s eagles or to support conservation efforts, visit the Friends of Big Bear Valley website.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Big Bear Eagles
Jackie and Shadow are a pair of bald eagles that nest at Big Bear Lake in California. They’ve become famous through a live camera that shows their nest 24/7. This eagle couple has been together for several years and has successfully raised baby eagles (called eaglets) in 2019 and 2022.
Two eggs have hatched as of March 4, 2025. The first eaglet emerged on March 2 at 11:26 p.m., and the second followed on March 3 at 4:29 a.m. A third egg remains in the nest and may still hatch, as it’s only reached Day 35 of incubation.
A “pip” is the first small crack or hole that appears in an egg when a baby eagle starts to hatch. It’s made by the eaglet using its “egg tooth” (a small bump on its beak) to break through the shell. This first pip is an exciting sign that hatching has begun, though the full process can take a day or more to complete.
Bald eagle eggs typically take between 35-42 days to hatch after being laid. Jackie laid her first egg on January 22, 2025, and it hatched on Day 35 of incubation (March 2). Eagle parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm until they’re ready to hatch.
Baby eagles grow amazingly fast! Though they start as tiny, fuzzy chicks, they’ll grow to over three feet tall in just 10-14 weeks. During this time, both parents hunt constantly to feed their hungry babies. The eaglets won’t be able to fly until they reach this size, a milestone called “fledging.”
The baby eagles face several challenges to survival:
- Weather: They don’t have waterproof feathers for about six weeks, so rain or snow can be dangerous if they can’t stay under their parents.
- Space: As Sandy Steers from Friends of Big Bear Valley noted, “space under mom gets tight if all three eggs hatch.”
- Food competition: Siblings sometimes compete for food, with older chicks often getting more to eat.
You can watch Jackie, Shadow, and their eaglets live through the 24/7 webcam operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley. The live stream is available on their website and shows all the daily activities in the nest—feeding, parents trading places, and the eaglets’ growth and development.
In 2024, Jackie laid three eggs, but none of them hatched, which was disappointing for viewers. Sandy Steers explained that this could have been due to environmental factors “such as temperatures, humidity percentages, oxygen levels at high altitude” or biological factors where “something just being off at the time the eggs were created.” This year’s successful hatchings are especially exciting after last year’s disappointment.
