Jackie and Shadow eaglets hatch at Big Bear Lake — live nest cam captures two new chicks after dramatic nesting season
Two bald eaglets hatched at Big Bear Lake from Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 clutch, the first emerging late April 4 and the second early April 5 — both moments captured live on the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam.
- Two chicks hatched: first about 9:30 p.m. April 4; second just before 9 a.m. April 5 — observed on the FOBBV livestream and reported by Fox LA.
- Replacement clutch after losses: the pair initially laid four eggs; two were lost in a raven raid, then Jackie laid replacement eggs on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 that produced the two hatchlings (ABC7).
- Continuous public viewing: the nest remains under constant public view via the Friends of Big Bear Valley 24/7 camera, which captured pipping, chirps and the full hatching sequence.
Key information at a glance
What happened: Jackie (born c. 2012) and Shadow (c. 2014) produced two live eaglets from their replacement clutch. Observers watched pipping noises and the chicks’ emergence on the nest cam, with audio picking up soft chirps during the process.
Quick timeline:
- The first egg showed an external pip on Friday, April 3, and the eaglet fully emerged about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4.
- The second egg pippped the same evening and the chick emerged roughly 12 hours later, shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, April 5.
How the hatching unfolded — what “pip” means and the timeline
Nest-camera footage and Friends of Big Bear Valley updates show a classic hatching progression. An external pip is when the chick breaks the outer shell and begins to breathe through the internal membrane; observers then often hear soft chirps from inside the egg.
“A chick is not considered hatched until it is completely free of its shell.” — Friends of Big Bear Valley guidance
FOBBV noted that after the initial pip it can take 24–48 hours for a chick to completely emerge. Viewers on the livestream watched the first eaglet push free and pop its head out late April 4; the second followed about a half-day later. After hatching, a parent covered the chicks with its body for warmth and protection — a typical parental behavior captured on stream.
The nest’s rocky road this season
This breeding season included setbacks: Jackie and Shadow originally laid four eggs, but ravens raided the nest and destroyed two. The pair then produced a replacement clutch on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 that yielded the two new chicks (ABC7).
Raven raids are a known hazard for raptors; the rapid replacement clutch and continued parental care helped salvage the season. Local volunteers and the FOBBV community followed events closely on the nest cam and social channels.
Jackie and Shadow — local celebrities and experienced parents
Background: Jackie (approx. 2012) and Shadow (approx. 2014) have nested near Big Bear Lake for years and have successfully raised eaglets in multiple seasons, including 2019 and 2022, with chicks named Sunny and Gizmo in 2025. Their nest has been live-streamed since 2018, turning them into conservation ambassadors for the community (Wikipedia; Big Bear community resources).
The couple’s repeated success highlights the importance of stable habitat, minimal disturbance, and community monitoring enabled by the nest cam.
What to expect now — growth and care for the eaglets
Experts and FOBBV volunteers note eaglets grow rapidly. In the first weeks, parents concentrate on feeding, brooding to keep chicks warm, and guarding the nest. Chicks can reach roughly three feet in height in about two months, transforming quickly from fluffy hatchlings to large juveniles preparing to fledge.
FOBBV’s continuous livestream and audio allow volunteers and wildlife professionals to monitor feeding, growth, and signs of external threats. The community is asked to avoid disturbing nesting sites and to report concerns to local wildlife authorities.
How the public can watch and follow updates
The Friends of Big Bear Valley provides a 24/7 live stream of the nest, which served as the hub for the recent “pip watch” and hatch days. Thousands have tuned in to witness pipping and hatching in real time (Friends of Big Bear Valley).
Local news outlets provided time-stamped updates and context; for ongoing viewing, visit the Friends of Big Bear Valley eagle page and nest cam links.
Conservation context — why local nesting success matters
Every successful nest contributes to regional bald eagle population health. Once endangered in many U.S. areas, bald eagles have recovered thanks to protections, habitat work, and public support. Continued nesting success at Big Bear Lake helps maintain local populations and serves as an educational example for Southern California conservation efforts (Big Bear community resources).
The community-run nest cam model demonstrates how volunteers can document breeding attempts, track chick growth, and detect threats like nest raids, complementing official wildlife surveys.
Implications for San Diego, California
- Economic and tourism ties: Wildlife watching spurs day trips and guided tours; successful nesting stories can boost interest in regional raptor-watching and local business traffic (Big Bear tourism).
- Educational impact: San Diego schools and nature centers can use the live footage as a classroom resource to study pipping, re-clutching and nest threats (FOBBV).
- Policy relevance: The story highlights how volunteer groups and public interest support wildlife protection and public education without requiring contentious regulatory changes.
- Social and cultural effects: The nest cam connects urban and coastal residents with mountain ecosystems, fostering stewardship and cross-regional support for conservation.
Sources and resources for further viewing and verification
- Friends of Big Bear Valley — eagle nest cam and updates
- Fox LA — coverage of the hatching timeline
- ABC7 — reporting on the nest and early pip watch
- Big Bear community resources — tourism and background on local eagle activity
- Wikipedia — compiled background on Jackie and Shadow
Reporting: Times Media Service; live-stream observations from Friends of Big Bear Valley.
