Big Bear Bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow Celebrate First Hatch of 2026 Nesting

Joy erupted among thousands of global viewers as Big Bear's famous bald eagles entered the final stages of nesting.

“PETS & ANIMALS Bald eagle egg starts hatching as Big Bear's Jackie and Shadow watch over nest”

ABC7 Los Angeles

Friends of Big Bear Valley confirmed the first pip, signaling imminent hatching.

ABC7 Los Angeles

Chirps had been heard starting the previous afternoon, indicating the chick broke the internal membrane and took its first breath.

By Friday evening, the eaglet had poked its head free though was not yet fully hatched.

The hatching comes after the pair endured a raven attack that destroyed their initial eggs.

As the first egg continued to hatch, the second egg began showing signs of progress.

Friends of Big Bear Valley cautioned that the second pip was not well defined.

ABC7 San Francisco

Shadow was seen defending the nest from a red-tailed hawk.

The close monitoring exemplify how technology has transformed wildlife observation.

The eagle cam continues to attract tens of thousands of daily viewers.

“Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow — whose lives are documented via a webcam that attracts viewers worldwide — introduced the bundle of joy back in February after a raven attacked the pair’s first two eggs of the season”

California Post

The Friends of Big Bear Valley's social media post had nearly 20,000 likes within an hour.

This public engagement reflects a broader trend of democratizing wildlife observation.

Though this season began with heartbreak, the emergence of a new eaglet represents resilience.