Jackie and Shadow lay new egg after ravens destroyed earlier clutch
Beloved Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow laid a new egg around 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 2026, on the Friends of the Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest Cam, offering renewed hope after their January clutch was destroyed by ravens.
- New egg: Jackie and Shadow’s new egg appeared at about 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and was seen on the FOBBV Nest Cam.
- Earlier loss: The pair previously lost two eggs in late January after ravens breached the nest on Jan. 30, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
- Incubation timeline: Bald eagle eggs usually incubate about 35 days; eagles often lay eggs about three days apart, so more eggs could follow (see CBS Los Angeles reporting).
- Public engagement: The nest cam and the eagles’ behavior have drawn viewers and volunteers worldwide to monitor and support the pair (FOBBV nest cam and related coverage).
New egg spotted on nest cam
On Tuesday afternoon, viewers watching the Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) Eagle Nest Cam saw Jackie stand briefly to inspect and fluff the nest around a small, pale egg before settling on top of it. Shadow returned to the nest a few minutes later.
The incident occurred under clear skies and mild afternoon temperatures in the mid-50s after recent snow at higher elevations had melted from the nest site. For video and live-cam coverage, see ABC7 coverage and CBS Los Angeles coverage.
“Jackie did a great job and she is now resting,” Friends of the Big Bear Valley posted, adding staff did not yet know whether Jackie intended to lay additional eggs this season.
Because bald eagle incubation typically lasts about 35 days from laying to hatch, viewers will be watching closely in late March and early April for any sign of pipping (see CBS Los Angeles).
What happened to the earlier clutch
Jackie laid eggs on Jan. 23 and Jan. 26 this year, but both were destroyed when ravens invaded the nest on Jan. 30 during a period when the adults were away for several hours. Video and observer logs show ravens breached and damaged the eggs; the FOBBV and viewers expressed heartbreak at the loss (reporting by ABC7 Los Angeles).
FOBBV staff said the adults had been incubating but may have briefly left the nest because of perceived problems with the eggs or to fend off other eagles. Bald eagles sometimes step off a nest to signal trouble or to chase intruders; when eggs are compromised, adults may leave in search of food or to attempt territory defense.
The Jan. 30 sequence and subsequent analysis have renewed questions about nest security and how to reduce predator pressure without disturbing natural behavior (coverage: ABC7, CBS Los Angeles).
Recent nest activity and pair behavior
Leading up to the new egg, Jackie and Shadow were active around the nest. Observers noted regular deliveries of sticks and nest material, mating displays, aerial exchanges, and territorial interactions with ravens and other birds. Videos posted by local monitors show fish deliveries and close-contact bonding behavior such as neck nibbling and vocalizations that signal a strong pair bond and readiness to rear young.
These clips offer a day-by-day record of the birds’ recovery after the January loss. See daily activity clips: Daily activity clip 1, Daily activity clip 2, Daily activity clip 3.
History and significance in Big Bear Valley
Jackie and Shadow have been regular residents around Big Bear Lake for years. Jackie, estimated to have hatched around 2012, became a local fixture after first being documented in the valley in 2016. Shadow, estimated to have hatched in 2014, joined the nesting territory in 2018.
Together they have produced multiple clutches since the region’s first recorded chick in 2012. Not all eggs hatch and not all hatchlings survive to adulthood; roughly half of eaglets reach maturity nationwide, underscoring the fragility of successful rearing and the importance of safe nesting habitat. Successful fledges from this pair include young raised in 2019, 2022 and two fledglings last year known locally as Sunny and Gizmo.
FOBBV Eagle Nest Cam: public engagement and stewardship
The Friends of the Big Bear Valley operate a 24/7 Eagle Live Nest Cam and a Wide View Cam, providing continuous streaming of the nest and surrounding snags. The cams draw thousands of viewers worldwide who track deliveries, courtship, and incubation. The stream has become both a scientific resource and an educational tool, amplifying interest in local conservation and volunteer support.
The cams also create a record that helps researchers and volunteers understand threats such as raven predation and weekly weather impacts on nesting success (coverage: ABC7; CBS Los Angeles).
Community response and local losses
The nest cam has cultivated a global fan base that mourned the Jan. 30 egg losses. At the same time, local volunteers and FOBBV coordinators rallied to document the pair’s recovery and to keep watchers informed. The community also marked the recent passing of Sandy Steers, a Big Bear wildlife activist who helped spearhead the nest-cam project; FOBBV acknowledged Steers’ leadership and the community’s ongoing support.
Questions for conservation and management
The Jan. 30 loss raises practical questions that local wildlife managers, volunteers and viewers continue to consider: What noninvasive steps can reduce raven harassment of nests? Are there habitat features that attract predatory ravens to the area? When, if ever, is human intervention warranted to protect eggs or chicks?
Experts and local stewards emphasize that direct interference with nests or wildlife is illegal without permits and that the preferred approach is habitat stewardship, public education and careful monitoring through nest cams and field observation. The FOBBV camera records are helping inform those discussions by giving a minute-by-minute account of threats and responses (coverage: ABC7; CBS Los Angeles).
Implications for San Diego, California
Economic and tourism effects: While Jackie and Shadow nest in the San Bernardino Mountains, interest in the pair extends across Southern California, including San Diego. The FOBBV Eagle Nest Cam draws online viewers who may travel to regionally linked wildlife sites or participate in local eco-tourism.
Education and outreach: The nest cam is a ready-made classroom for San Diego schools, nature centers and community programs. Teachers and youth programs can use live footage and the birds’ story to teach life cycles, ecology and responsible stewardship.
Conservation policy and funding: The ravens’ attack and the fragility of eagle nesting success underscore the need for stable funding for habitat protection and monitoring across Southern California. San Diego’s conservation planners and nonprofit partners could use Jackie and Shadow’s story to advocate for regional grants, shared monitoring programs, and cross-jurisdictional strategies.
Volunteerism and citizen science: FOBBV’s model shows how volunteers and remote cameras can support long-term monitoring. San Diego-based birders and conservation volunteers could partner with regional networks to share best practices for nest monitoring and noninvasive predator-management strategies.
Wildlife management and public behavior: The episode highlights how human behavior influences wildlife outcomes. Residents and visitors should be reminded that feeding wild birds, approaching nests, or otherwise disturbing raptors can increase nest stress and predation risk.
Sources and coverage
- ABC7 Los Angeles: “Beloved Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow lay another egg; nest was invaded last month”
- CBS Los Angeles: “Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow third egg 2026”
- Observer video clips documenting nest activity and daily life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwiTHNebbx0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv_c-EgZFS0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvKW15Q1raA
Ongoing coverage and close monitoring of the FOBBV Eagle Nest Cam will follow Jackie and Shadow’s incubation period in the weeks ahead as watchers worldwide and regional partners track the pair’s progress.
