Jackie and Shadow Lay Third Egg of 2026 Nesting Season, Sparking New Hope for Big Bear Lake Eaglets
Big Bear Lake’s resident bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, laid a third egg at about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 2026, after ravens destroyed two earlier eggs, renewing hopes for late-March hatching and attracting global nest-cam viewers worldwide.
- Third egg observed Feb. 24: Jackie revealed a fresh egg on the Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Live Nest Cam — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
- Earlier losses: Two eggs laid Jan. 23 and Jan. 26 were destroyed by ravens on Jan. 30.
- Incubation timeline: Bald eagle eggs incubate ~35 days; a viable Feb. 24 egg could hatch in late March.
- Live monitoring: The Big Bear Eagle Live Nest Cam streams 24/7 and provides vital public and researcher observations — Big Bear Eagle Live Nest Cam (archive 1), (archive 2).
Nest update: what happened on Feb. 24
What viewers saw: On Tuesday afternoon the Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Live Nest Cam captured Jackie briefly standing and revealing a large, fresh egg in the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake. She then rearranged nest material and settled back into incubation, and Shadow returned minutes later to resume watchful duties — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Weather and immediate conditions
A week earlier, a blanket of snow covered the area; by Feb. 24 skies were clear and temperatures were in the mid-50s near the nest — conditions that can influence nesting behavior and prey availability. Friends of Big Bear Valley issued a statement:
“Jackie did a great job and she is now resting.”
The statement noted it was unclear whether additional eggs would be laid — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
What led to this second clutch
Jackie and Shadow laid eggs on Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, but on Jan. 30 ravens attacked while the adults were away and destroyed both eggs — footage that the nest cam replayed for viewers worldwide. Despite that setback, the pair resumed courtship and nest repair, showing increased mating behavior and active nest maintenance. Because bald eagles typically lay eggs at roughly three-day intervals, observers said another egg could follow within days — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
A view from history: Jackie and Shadow over the years
Jackie and Shadow are familiar figures in Big Bear Valley. The first recorded bald eagle chick in the valley hatched in 2012 and fledged successfully. Since then about a dozen eggs have been laid locally; only a fraction have hatched and reached maturity, highlighting the challenges of wild rearing.
Recent successes: The pair raised eaglets in 2019 and 2022, and in 2025 produced two eaglets named Sunny and Gizmo. Conservationists note that roughly half of eaglets do not reach adulthood, underscoring the importance of habitat protection and disturbance reduction — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam: public engagement and monitoring
The Big Bear Eagle Live Nest Cam streams live 24 hours a day and has become an important tool for public education and community engagement. The feed draws thousands of viewers who follow every stage of nesting, feeding and parenting behavior.
Beyond public interest, the camera provides researchers, volunteers and wildlife managers continuous documentation helpful for identifying threats — such as raven harassment, human disturbance, or weather-related risks — and for tracking outcomes across seasons. After the January egg losses, the livestream documented the pair’s recovery and renewed efforts — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Incubation timeline and what to watch for next
Timing: Bald eagle eggs generally incubate for about 35 days. If the Feb. 24 egg is viable and remains protected, viewers could expect a hatch in late March.
Behavioral signs to watch: shared incubation duties, feeding visits, and defensive reactions to predators like ravens. Continuous observation increases the chance volunteers and wildlife officials can spot problems early and consider recommended, noninvasive measures to reduce disturbance and predation risk — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Conservation concerns: predation, habitat and survival
The Jan. 30 raven attack illustrates a persistent challenge: egg predation when adults are away. Ravens are opportunistic and can exploit moments when parents leave the nest to hunt or rest. Protecting nests—especially in populated or accessible areas—requires public awareness and measures such as limiting nearby human activity during sensitive times, preserving foraging habitat, and maintaining healthy fisheries and forests to support adult foraging success — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Because roughly 50% of eaglets survive to adulthood, each successful hatch matters for the local population. Volunteers and wildlife groups use nest-cam footage to document trends and advocate for policies that preserve nesting trees and reduce human-caused disturbance.
Community reaction and global viewership
The loss of the first two eggs prompted worldwide sympathy. The livestream audience rallied when Jackie and Shadow repaired the nest and resumed courtship. The nest cam has turned the pair into local ambassadors for raptors, drawing attention to the San Bernardino Mountains and the region’s wildlife values — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Economic impact
The live nest cam boosts tourism and local visibility. Thousands of online viewers often translate interest into valley visits, benefiting local businesses, guides and lodges. Continued attention during nesting season can help sustain eco-tourism revenue for Big Bear and nearby mountain communities.
Political consequences
Local policymakers and land managers may face renewed calls to strengthen protections for nesting habitat, including limits on development near nest sites, enforcement of disturbance buffers during nesting season, and funding for habitat restoration—issues that can shape county conservation priorities and regional land-use discussions.
Social effects
The nest cam fosters community cohesion and environmental stewardship. Schools, nature groups and families use the live footage as an educational tool, strengthening public support for conservation initiatives tied to the bald eagle nesting season.
Cultural relevance
Jackie and Shadow’s story — resilience after egg loss, careful nest work, and the possibility of new eaglets — resonates broadly and reinforces cultural values around protecting iconic species and wild places.
Practical applications for residents
Residents and visitors can help by respecting posted nest buffers, keeping dogs leashed near wildlife areas, and reporting disturbances to local rangers or Friends of Big Bear Valley volunteers. These actions reduce abandonment risk and improve the odds that new eggs will survive to hatching and beyond — CBS Los Angeles coverage.
Sources and further viewing
Primary coverage: CBS Los Angeles coverage: Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow lay third egg of 2026 nesting season.
Nest cam archives: Big Bear Eagle Live Nest Cam (archive 1); (archive 2).
