Big Bear's Famous Eagle Pair Thrives After Early Season Setback
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Jackie and Shadow, Big Bear Lake's celebrated bald eagle pair, are raising two healthy eaglets after overcoming a crushing setback earlier this breeding season.
The first eaglet hatched around 9:30 p.m. on April 4, followed by its sibling twelve hours later on Easter Sunday morning, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that operates live nest cameras. Shadow returned to the nest shortly after the second hatching and immediately began his parenting duties.
The successful hatching comes after ravens destroyed Jackie's first clutch of eggs earlier this year while both parents were away from the nest. Bald eagles typically produce one clutch per season, but a second attempt is possible if eggs are lost early in the breeding cycle. Jackie laid her second clutch in late February.
As of April 14, both chicks were thriving in their six-foot-deep nest perched near the top of a Jeffrey pine. Despite their powerful 1.5 to 2-inch talons, Jackie and Shadow handle their newborns with remarkable gentleness, using their beaks to tear food into tiny pieces for the eaglets' small mouths.
Viewers watching the free live feed on the Friends of Big Bear Valley YouTube channel can observe the chicks engaging in "bonking," headbutting behavior between siblings that the organization says is completely normal. The cameras run 24 hours a day with no ads or monetization.
"Trust the process, trust the eagles, and settle in and enjoy these cute little fur balls because they change every day," Jenny Voisard, the organization's media manager, told LAist.
Jackie and Shadow are no strangers to the joys and heartbreaks of raising a family. Last year, the devoted pair welcomed three eggs into their nest, and all three hatched, filling Big Bear with cautious optimism. Sadly, one of the eaglets did not survive a winter storm, a sobering reminder of how unforgiving nature can be for even the most attentive parents. But Jackie and Shadow pressed on, and their perseverance paid off: the two remaining eaglets grew strong, mastered their wings and successfully fledged.
Friends of Big Bear Valley was founded in 2001 to conserve and protect the natural environment of Big Bear Valley through education and advocacy. The nonprofit has operated the eagle cameras for years, giving viewers worldwide a front-row seat to watch the devoted parents raise their young.
This breeding season carries added significance as Jackie and Shadow face a potential threat to their habitat. A luxury housing development and marina has been planned for nearly two decades on undisturbed lakefront land near their nest. Environmental experts have testified that such development would cause significant harm to the eagles and could force them to abandon the area.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the project last September despite receiving over 5,000 public emails opposing it, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
But now there is one last chance. According to FBBV, the developer has agreed to give the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust a limited option to purchase and preserve the nearly 63 acres permanently. The deadline is July 31, 2026. The price is $10 million. More than $1.75 million has been raised so far, largely in small donations, but the gap is significant and the clock is running, Friends of Big Bear Valley said in a statement.
The preservation effort honors Sandy Steers, Friends of Big Bear Valley's longtime executive director, who helped negotiate the land deal before her death on February 11. Steers called saving the land her most important priority.
Donations for the land purchase go to SaveMoonCamp.org. General support for the cameras and conservation programs can be made at friendsofbigbearvalley.org/donate. Friends of Big Bear Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and contributions are tax deductible.
The success of Jackie and Shadow reflects broader recovery efforts for bald eagles in California. The California Department of Fish and Game reports steadily growing numbers of breeding pairs occupying territories statewide, with recent sightings in 41 of the state's 58 counties.
For residents in Ventura County, eagles have been spotted closer to home at Lake Sherwood in neighboring Westlake Village. Community members on Nextdoor have reported regular sightings of a bald eagle pair, though details remain informal.
The eagle cameras in Big Bear offer a grounding connection to nature's rhythms. Viewers often find themselves watching for twenty minutes while working or doing household tasks, drawn to the unhurried pace of eagle family life unfolding in real time in Southern California's mountain backdrop.
Representing resilience, strength, and freedom, the symbol of America isn't just a distant icon — it's a living, soaring reality worth protecting.
