Jackie and Shadow
Jackie, believed to be the first bald eagle hatched in Big Bear Valley, came to public attention in 2017 when she and her mate, Mr. B, took over an abandoned nest with cameras installed. This nest, monitored by the Friends of Big Bear Valley, became a focal point for eagle enthusiasts. In the summer of 2018, an adult male intruder, later named Shadow, appeared at the nest. Despite efforts by Jackie, Mr. B, and their chick Stormy to chase him away, Shadow persisted. Eventually, Mr. B left, and Jackie accepted Shadow as her new mate, marking the beginning of their partnership in the nest.
Their story is one of resilience, adaptation, and community fascination, with their nesting activities drawing thousands of viewers annually. This note provides a comprehensive overview of how they started in the Big Bear Valley eagle nest, based on historical records and observations.
Following Mr. B’s departure, Jackie and Shadow began their first season together in the fall of 2018. Their first clutch as a pair was laid in March 2019, with eggs hatching on April 14 and 15, resulting in chicks named Simba and Cookie (Big Bear Eagle History). This season demonstrated their ability to work together, though Cookie did not survive a subsequent rain and snowstorm. Their partnership has since continued, with another successful hatch of an eaglet named Spirit on March 3rd, 2022. However, Jackie & Shadow struggled to hatch any eggs during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
In early 2025, Jackie laid 3 eggs, with the 3rd egg laid during a snowstorm. Both Jackie and Shadow took turns incubating and protecting the eggs. Jackie in particular stayed protecting the nest for nearly 46 hours straight during a 2-day snowstorm.
She was covered in snow and rain, but she did not falter and remained on the eggs until Shadow came to relief her with a fresh fish.
See the touching moment when Shadow arrived to bring Jackie a fresh fish captured on live cam.
Their perseverance paid off! Eaglet 1 hatched on 3/3, Eaglet 2 hatched on 3/4, and Eaglet 3 hatched on 3/8. Going from two seasons without hatching any eggs, to hatching 3 beautiful eaglets despite the harsh weathers of Big Bear Valley. This is nothing short of a miracle.
You can watch Jackie and Shadow’s bald eagle nest LIVE, on FOBBV’s Youtube channel below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who operates the live camera feed?
Friends of Big Bear Valley operates and owns all the rights to the live feeds. They are a non-profit organization, please support them by donating directly on the FOBBV website. You can also shop for merch here on their website.
How long does it take for eaglets to fledge?
American bald eaglets take about 10-12 weeks to fledge, which is the process of developing the feathers and muscle strength needed to fly and leave the nest. For example, in the Big Bear Valley nest, eaglets like Spirit in 2022 fledged around this timeline—Spirit took her first flight at about 89 days (roughly 12.7 weeks).
How do I know who’s on the nest, or which eaglets have been fed?
FOBBV operates a live recap of all the happenings with this bald eagle nest. You can see who’s on the nest, who’s bringing home food, and all the timestamps on when the eaglets are being fed.
Who names the Big Bear Valley eaglets?
Big Bear eaglets are named via a naming contest involving global & local communities. The previous eaglet names were voted by local third-graders from Big Bear Valley schools.
How old is Jackie and Shadow?
Jackie is 13 years old, Shadow is 11 years old.
What kind of tree is the nest sitting on?
Jackie and Shadow’s nest is perched 145 feet up on a strong Jeffrey pine tree, overlooking Big Bear Lake.
Who is Fiona?
Fiona & Fast Freddie are San Bernardino Flying Squirrels (SBFS) that live nearby. They are nocturnal scavengers and pose no threat to the eaglets.
How big is the nest?
FOBBV bald eagle nest is approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter. This is a view of the nest on the tree from cam 2.
Is it normal for siblings to fight?
Sibling rivalry in bald eagles is a fascinating and often intense phenomenon that occurs primarily among eaglets in the nest. It’s driven by competition for food and survival instincts, and it can significantly influence which chicks thrive or even survive to fledge (leave the nest).
Eagle parents don’t typically intervene in this rivalry. They feed whichever chick is most assertive or closest, reinforcing the dominance of the stronger eaglet. This hands-off approach aligns with a natural selection strategy: ensuring that the fittest offspring survive in a world where raising even one eaglet to adulthood is resource-intensive.
Due to the abundance of food in Big Bear Valley, both eaglets are getting fed very well.
What are the 2025 eaglets named?
FOBBV has announced that the bigger chick is named Sunny, and the smaller chick is named Gizmo. There were over 54,000 names submitted. The local school students played a part in choosing the names. Welcome to the world Sunny and Gizmo!
How do I tell them apart?
Jackie has a more fierce look, with a thicker beak. She also currently has a smudge above her eye, making her easily identifiable. Picture here shows Jackie standing and Shadow laying on the nest. Jackie is also physically bigger than Shadow.
What is a poop shot?
One of the funniest things to observe is to watch the eaglets trying to balance themselves while they raise their butt to excrete feces. This is called a “poop shot”, a natural behavior for them to expel waste. Below is the smaller chick (SC) doing a poop shot for the camera.
What are pin feathers?
Pin feathers are early stages of feather development in eaglets. They’re called “pin feathers” because they look like small, pointed pins or quills sticking out of the eaglet’s skin. These feathers are still growing and are encased in a waxy, keratin sheath that protects the feather as it develops. Over time, the eaglet preens, and the sheath breaks apart, allowing the feather to unfurl into its full form.
In bald eaglets, this process starts a few weeks after hatching. Initially, they’re covered in downy fluff, but around 2-3 weeks of age, pin feathers begin to emerge on their wings, back, and head. These feathers are critical for insulation, flight, and waterproofing as the eaglet matures. The transition from down to pin feathers, and eventually to juvenile plumage, takes several weeks—typically by 10-12 weeks, they’re mostly feathered and ready to fledge.
New Updates 2025
Read about Jackie and Shadow updates today
4/22/25 – Shadow brings home a fish so big, that people watching called it a whale! Sunny and Gizmo then proceeded to self-feed.
4/21/25 – Sunny standing like a bald eagle, as he continues to work the leg muscles. Great growth development by both eaglets.
4/18/25 – Gizmo’s impressive wingspan
4/18/25 – Sunny and Gizmo size comparison, Sunny (right) is still slightly larger, and has more brown feathers. Both growing and developing nicely into juvenile bald eagles.
4/18/25 – Our Queen, Jackie, closeup.
4/17/25 – Sunny (right) and Gizmo (left) bonding, playing with sticks.
4/17/25 – Gizmo’s wingspan, showing he’s no longer small anymore.
4/17/25 – Sunny doing a bit of wing flapping exercise, displaying big wingspan
4/17/25 – Jackie and Shadow with their eaglets Sunny and Gizmo, one happy family.
4/14/25 – Shadow being a good dad, feeding Sunny and Gizmo.
4/14/25 – A nice closeup look at Gizmo, growing up nicely, slightly less black feather than Sunny at this stage of development.
4/14/25 – A good look at Sunny, with black feather growing in nicely, as Sunny displays good wingspan.
4/14/25 – A good closeup look at Jackie, the beautiful bald eagle mama.
4/10/25 – Sunny standing up straight, showing good leg strength.
4/8/25 – Jackie and Shadow protecting the nest from ravens. Shadow front and Jackie in the back, a good look at both of them together.
4/8/25 – Sunny showing off his wingspan as he stretches his wings.
4/7/25 – A good look at Sunny’s pin feathers, the early stages of feather development. Sunny (left) and Gizmo (right).
4/7/25 – Sunny (right) exploring the edges of the nest bowl, getting ever so curious. Gizmo watches.
4/7/25 – Sunny (left) and Gizmo (right) getting big, their black/brown feathers growing in nicely.
4/6/25 – Shadow watches over Sunny and Gizmo on this lovely Sunday morning.
4/3/25 – Sunny (left) and Gizmo (right) closeups, both well fed and growing up nicely.
4/2/25 – FOBBV has named the bigger chick Sunny, and the smaller chick Gizmo. Welcome to the world Sunny and Gizmo!
4/1/25 – Huge crops seen on the eaglets today, as Jackie and Shadow stuffed the siblings full with coot and fish.
3/31/25 – Smaller chick doing a poop shot for the camera.
3/31/25 – More views of the pin feather growth on the eaglets.
3/31/25 – Big Bear Valley eagle family resting on the nest, after Shadow delivered a record 10 fish today! Jackie added 2 additional fish for a record 12 fish total for the nest today.
3/29/25 – Close up of pin feather growth on the eaglets.
3/29/25 – Jackie and Shadow both staying at the nest watching out for intruders.
3/28/25 – Shadow brings home a fish bigger than the eaglets.
3/28/25 – Good close up shots of the eaglet siblings; bigger chick (left) and smaller chick (right).
3/28/25 – Jackie watches as sibling rivalry resulted in a few back and forth bonking. No eaglet was harmed.
3/27/25 – Jackie and Shadow both watching over the eaglets, a nice family shot.
3/27/25 – Shadow bringing home fresh sticks for a bit of nestoration.
3/26/25 – Eagle family together enjoying a good day at the Big Bear Valley.
3/25/25 – Eaglet siblings getting along well, with noticeable size differences.
3/24/25 – Big Chick (top) and Small Chick (bottom) closeup shot as of 3/24, about 2 and half to 3 weeks old.
3/24/25 – Jackie closeup shot as she stood in front of the eagle nest camera.
3/23/25 – FOBBV Chick Naming Contest Fundraiser. Contest ends on Friday, March 28th. Support FOBBV so they can continue to operate the beautiful live eagle nest cameras at Big Bear Valley.
3/21/25 – Eaglet siblings standing tall, showing good growth.
3/21/25 – Shadow being a super dad and brings home a big fish for the eagle family.
3/20/25 – Bigger Chick doing wing flaps.
3/20/25 – Jackie being a proud mama watching over her eaglets as they enjoy a nice sunny day in Big Bear Valley.
3/18/25 – The eagle family weathered an overnight storm with cold winds. Shadow being a proud eagle dad watching over his eaglets.
3/18/25 – Beautiful close-up shots of Jackie and the healthy eaglet siblings.
3/17/25 – Jackie feeding eaglets, they’re both fed well and growing up nicely
3/16/25 – Eaglets seen sunbathing in the nest
3/14/25 – Jackie feeding the eaglets during the snowstorm. Unfortunately only two eaglets are seen feeding today. One eaglet was confirmed deceased.
3/13/25 – Jackie nearly fully covered in snow as the storm intensifies.
3/13/25 – Jackie covered in snow during a harsh snowstorm, staying strong while Shadow watches over her.
3/13/25 – Jackie seen shaking snow off her back briefly before covering the eaglets again in warmth.
3/12/25 – Jackie and Shadow seen under beautiful morning sunlight, as they prepare for a Winter storm.
3/12/25 – Jackie and Shadow tandem feeding the three eaglets.