Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow welcome two new eaglets as nest recovery follows raven raid
Jackie and Shadow, the wild bald eagles nesting near Big Bear Lake, welcomed two eaglets this weekend — the first hatched late Saturday and a sibling about 12 hours later, a hopeful recovery after an earlier raven raid.
Key takeaways
- Two eaglets hatched: the first emerged about 9:30 p.m. Saturday; the second hatched just before 9 a.m. Sunday.
- Second clutch followed a loss: ravens destroyed two eggs in the pair’s earlier clutch, prompting Jackie to lay again on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27.
- Live monitoring and volunteers: the nest camera and updates from Friends of Big Bear Valley made near‑real‑time viewing possible.
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Hatching timeline and what “pipping” means
Friends of Big Bear Valley operators and viewers of the nest camera tracked the hatching sequence in near real time. A “pip” — the first break in the internal membrane and shell that lets a chick take its first breath — was recorded mid‑morning Friday for the first egg, followed by chirps and movement through Friday and Saturday.
The first eaglet fully emerged from its shell at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday after showing signs of pipping and chirping the day before, according to the FOBBV live stream and updates and local media coverage from CBS Los Angeles and Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Note: full emergence can take 24 to 48 hours after the initial pip, depending on the chick’s stamina and position in the egg.
The second egg showed signs of pipping later and completed hatching about 12 hours after the first, just before 9 a.m. Sunday. Live footage showed a parent tucking both chicks under its body to keep them warm after first exposure to sunlight.
Nest history, raven raid and the second clutch
Jackie and Shadow have used a monitored nest near Big Bear Lake for years and have raised young in prior seasons, including 2019, 2022 and 2025. This season’s first clutch contained four eggs, but two were destroyed in a raven raid — a setback that preceded Jackie laying a second clutch on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27.
The second clutch produced the two successful hatchings recorded this weekend. The nest cam and updates are maintained by Friends of Big Bear Valley, which documents the pair’s progress and makes the live feed available to the public; additional context is available on the BigBear.com blog.
Behavior and early care
Newly hatched eaglets are fragile and depend entirely on parental care. In live footage and reports, Shadow and Jackie took turns at the nest — Shadow at times bringing fish to Jackie, and both adults vocalizing and sheltering the chicks. Observers noted Shadow chased off a hawk near the nest, underscoring the vigilance required to protect young.
Early routines: warmth, protection and initial feedings dominate the first days; parents often cover both chicks after sunrise to maintain body heat.
Growth expectations
Eaglets grow quickly. Volunteers and media observers report rapid weight gain and feather development in the weeks after hatching — with young birds roughly reaching about three feet in height within approximately two months.
Conservation, community volunteers and the role of FOBBV
The live camera and updates come from Friends of Big Bear Valley, a volunteer nonprofit that set up the nest cam to give the public a window into these eagles’ lives and to monitor their welfare. Their work allows residents and distant viewers to follow the pair’s progress, spot threats, and raise awareness about habitat protection around Big Bear Lake.
The live feed also serves as educational material for schools, nature groups and local tourism promotion, and provides a model of grassroots stewardship that can be adapted elsewhere.
Implications for Paso Robles, California
Economic: wildlife stories like this can boost regional nature tourism across San Luis Obispo County, benefiting outfitters, B&Bs and visitor services in Paso Robles.
Political and social: the FOBBV volunteer model aligns with community‑led stewardship favored in many conservative areas; local leaders can look to this approach when crafting volunteer‑driven habitat and education programs.
Community groups and schools in Paso Robles can use the live camera and coverage for lessons, field trips and outreach that emphasize respect for wildlife and land stewardship.
How residents can follow and support the family
- Watch the nest: the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest camera and updates provide continuous viewing.
- Read local coverage: background and community posts appear on the BigBear.com blog.
- Media timelines: reporting from CBS Los Angeles and Fox 11 Los Angeles documents the hatching progress.
- Background on the pair: see the Wikipedia overview for historical context.
Reporting notes and sources
This article draws on live‑stream observations and updates from Friends of Big Bear Valley, local reporting from CBS Los Angeles and Fox 11 Los Angeles, and background coverage from the BigBear.com blog and Wikipedia.
Readers in Paso Robles and elsewhere can follow the nest camera and local updates to watch Jackie and Shadow’s new chicks grow in the weeks ahead and consider how volunteer stewardship and local engagement help preserve the wild places that support species like the Big Bear bald eagles.
