Perched 44 meters up in a Jeffrey pine tree in California, two bald eagles have become the stars of a live-streamed saga. Earlier this week, the pair — nicknamed Jackie and Shadow — became new parents to two tiny eaglets while thousands of people tuned in to watch.
The non-profit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FBBV) installed high-definition cameras near the eagles’ nest to give an unfiltered view into their world. Positioned discreetly to avoid any disturbance, these cameras operate around the clock.
Jackie and Shadow’s journey has been anything but smooth. In previous years, viewers have watched ravens scavenge their eggs and harsh weather conditions thwart their breeding efforts. In both 2023 and 2024, Jackie laid eggs but they didn’t hatch. Despite these setbacks, the pair rebuilds their nest for each breeding season, and every year, more viewers tune in.
Jackie has laid three eggs for the second year in a row, shocking experts.
“I’m very excited and a little bit surprised,” Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, told the Los Angeles Times. “Last year, it happened for the first time, and it’s so rare to have her lay three eggs again.”
Since early March, viewers have waited impatiently to see if any of the eggs will hatch. In general, only 50% of bald eagle eggs hatch. This is often due to the high altitude, low oxygen, and cold temperatures. This year, Jackie and Shadow beat the odds.
Photo: Friends of Big Bear Valley
Cracks appear
Cracks started to appear in one of the eggs on March 2. Although it’s been three years since her last chick, Jackie immediately knew what was happening.
“Jackie was obviously feeling the movement underneath her as she kept looking down and standing up to roll the eggs much more than usual,” said the FBBV in a statement. “Shadow happily got a turn on the eggs to give Jackie a morning break.”
The first eaglet emerged on March 3, and the second poked its head out through the eggshell on March 4. The live stream captured these moments in real time, allowing thousands of viewers to share the joy.
In an unbelievable turn of events, cracks started showing on the third egg on March 6. Hatching is not the quick process most imagine it to be. It can take a few days for a hatchling to fully make it out of the shell. Everyone is now waiting with bated breath to see if the third eaglet will hatch.
