Famous Big Bear Lake bald eagles Jackie and Shadow welcome two new eaglets
Big Bear Lake’s famed bald eagles Jackie and Shadow hatched two eaglets from their second clutch over April 4–5, 2026, delighting live-stream viewers after an earlier nest raid forced Jackie to lay a replacement set of eggs.
- Two eaglets hatched: one at about 9:30 p.m. April 4 and a second just before 9 a.m. April 5, 2026, as seen on the Friends of Big Bear Valley live stream.
- Second clutch followed a raid: Jackie laid replacement eggs after ravens damaged the first clutch earlier this season (eggs laid Feb. 24 and Feb. 27, 2026).
- Watch and learn: the live stream continues to document feeding, brooding, and rapid eaglet growth for viewers and conservationists alike.
The hatching weekend: timeline and live-stream reaction
Friday brought the first signs of life when the initial egg pipped — the chick broke its internal membrane and began getting its first breath. Friends of Big Bear Valley staff and watchers urged patience while the chick finished emerging.
By about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4, the first eaglet had fully emerged; the second hatched roughly 12 hours later, just before 9 a.m. Sunday. Viewers captured small chirps and shared emotional responses across social channels.
“Wait until the bird is completely free from the shell before celebrating it as hatched,” Friends of Big Bear Valley reminded viewers during the stream.
Nesting background and challenges this season
Jackie (estimated born c. 2012) and Shadow (estimated born c. 2014) nest in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake. Their nest camera, installed by Friends of Big Bear Valley in 2018, made them social-media stars and created a large online following.
This season began with a four-egg first clutch, but ravens raided the nest and destroyed two eggs. After that loss, Jackie laid a second clutch (eggs on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27, 2026) that produced the two successful hatches this weekend. Coverage of the raid and aftermath appeared in Los Angeles Times reporting and ABC7 coverage.
Eaglet growth and what to expect
Eaglets develop rapidly: observers and FOBBV resources note young bald eagles can reach about three feet in height in just over two months. In the coming weeks expect intense nest activity — feeding, parental shifts, and protective brooding.
Practical note: the live stream provides close, ethical viewing for schools and the public as chicks grow through defined milestones.
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the live stream’s role
The continuous camera maintained by Friends of Big Bear Valley has been central to conservation awareness, fundraising, and community engagement. The feed connects a wide audience to habitat issues and helps mobilize local support.
Community impact: the stream fosters an online network that shares clips, raises funds, and advocates for protecting foraging areas around Big Bear Lake.
History of Jackie and Shadow’s nesting success
The pair have successfully reared chicks in multiple seasons, including 2019, 2022 and 2025 (the latter produced eaglets named Sunny and Gizmo). Their history is compiled in both community resources and the Jackie and Shadow profile.
Implications for San Luis Obispo
Economic: the live stream and eagle story drive tourism interest that can indirectly benefit coastal communities and local businesses offering outdoor recreation and lodging.
Political & policy: the season’s nest raid and replacement clutch highlight habitat management and land‑use issues that may inform planning discussions in SLO County.
Social & educational: the stream is a low-cost classroom tool for schools and community groups to teach life cycles, ecology, and responsible wildlife viewing.
What to watch next
Expect regular updates from Friends of Big Bear Valley as the eaglets grow: feeding routines, parental rotations, and weather-related brooding will be the main events to monitor. Conservationists and viewers alike will be watching habitat threats and developmental pressures near foraging areas.
Reporting and sources
Reporting for this story included live-stream updates and social posts from Friends of Big Bear Valley, coverage from the Los Angeles Times, reporting from ABC7, the Big Bear community blog, and the Jackie and Shadow profile.
Preserved links and references: Friends of Big Bear Valley — Nest live stream and updates; Los Angeles Times — Jackie and Shadow story; ABC7 — Nest raid coverage; Big Bear community blog; Jackie and Shadow profile (Wikipedia).
