Big Bear’s Jackie and Shadow Lay New Egg After Ravens Destroy Earlier Clutch — Nest Cam Live Captures Return to the Nest
Big Bear Lake’s famed bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow laid a new egg on Feb. 24 at about 2:30 p.m., captured live on the Friends of the Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest Cam, renewing hope after a raven raid.
- New egg observed at about 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 on the Eagle Nest Cam live feed maintained by Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV).
- Jackie inspected then settled on the egg; Shadow returned minutes later — both captured on the live stream (CBS Los Angeles report).
- This is a new clutch after two earlier eggs were destroyed by ravens on Jan. 30; incubation is ~35 days, so hatching could occur in late March if fertile (CBS Los Angeles).
Egg arrival: what the camera showed
Afternoon of Feb. 24: the FOBBV Eagle Nest Cam live stream captured Jackie standing in the nest, rearranging material until a new egg became visible. She inspected the egg briefly, then settled over it. Shadow returned to the nest a few minutes later. Clear skies and mid-50s temperatures followed a week in which snow had melted. Thousands watched the moment live and shared it across social platforms maintained by FOBBV.
The lost clutch and the response
This egg follows a painful setback: Jackie and Shadow laid two eggs in late January (Jan. 23 and Jan. 26) that were destroyed during a raven raid on Jan. 30 while the adults were away for several hours. The community reacted with heartbreak, yet the pair resumed courtship and nest work, signaling persistence and a renewed attempt at breeding (CBS Los Angeles).
Pre-laying behavior: building the next chance
FOBBV updates and the nest cam recorded active nest work in early February. On Feb. 12 Jackie brought sticks and straw; Shadow delivered a whole fish that sparked a brief dispute before reconciliation. Feb. 13 showed continued material delivery and bonding. Observers also noted ravens nearby that day — a possible foreshadowing of the Jan. 30 threat. Field marks help watchers distinguish the adults: Shadow shows grayish feathers on his left white tail; Jackie has a faint forehead spot. Video updates are available from FOBBV (Circle of Life; A Perfect Pair).
The role of the Owl: cam, community and continuity
Friends of the Big Bear Valley operate the 24/7 live stream that has made Jackie and Shadow widely followed. The Eagle Nest Cam provides continuous observation and daily updates via YouTube, Instagram (FOBBV updates), Facebook, and TikTok. FOBBV reported that Jackie did a great job and was resting after laying; the organization also thanked the community for support following the passing of wildlife activist Sandy Steers, a key figure in the nest-cam program (FOBBV video).
Historical perspective: why each egg matters
Big Bear Valley recorded its first known bald eagle chick in 2012, which fledged successfully. Since then Jackie and Shadow have produced roughly a dozen eggs; only a fraction have survived to adulthood. Eaglet survival to maturity is generally around 50%, so each hatch and fledging is notable. Jackie and Shadow successfully raised eaglets in 2019, 2022 and 2025 (named Sunny and Gizmo), demonstrating the pair’s ability to rear young when conditions allow (CBS Los Angeles).
Threats and protections: ravens, habitat and human roles
Ravens are a natural species but can threaten unattended eggs. The Jan. 30 raid underscores how quickly a clutch can be lost. While the nest cam increases monitoring and rapid reporting, it cannot prevent every predation event. Long-term success requires habitat protection: conserving suitable nesting trees, sustaining healthy fish populations in Big Bear Lake, and limiting human development near nests. Community volunteers and organizations such as FOBBV provide monitoring, public education, and practical conservation support (CBS Los Angeles).
Science and timing: what watchers should expect
Bald eagle eggs typically incubate for about 35 days. With this egg laid on Feb. 24, hatching activity — if the egg is fertile — could occur in late March. Bald eagles often lay eggs roughly three days apart, so additional eggs may appear soon. The live camera is the best tool for remote viewers to follow incubation and development; continuous observation also aids researchers and citizen scientists tracking banding, health and survival.
Community response and the value of stewardship
Global followers reacted with relief and joy when the new egg appeared. The nest-cam community emphasizes respect for the birds and their space. Local volunteers and donors fund the streaming infrastructure and support educational outreach. This community stewardship highlights local responsibility for conservation: volunteer effort paired with public interest sustains the nest-cam project and wider habitat protections.
Implications for Huntington Beach
- Economic impact: Regional wildlife success stories can boost nature tourism and interest in Southern California wildlife; the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam attracts viewers and donors who support regional nonprofits.
- Political consequences: For conservative audiences, the story underscores the value of local stewardship and volunteer-led conservation as cost-effective alternatives to broad regulatory approaches (CBS Los Angeles).
- Social effects: Live streams build communities of engaged viewers who share information and motivate volunteerism; Huntington Beach residents often join these online communities (FOBBV video).
- Cultural relevance: Eagles symbolize resilience; Jackie and Shadow’s persistence resonates with themes of renewal and steady local care (CBS Los Angeles).
- Practical applications: Huntington Beach residents can support similar projects by volunteering, donating, reporting threats, and following habitat-friendly practices; watching the live feed offers practical nest-behavior lessons (FOBBV video).
Sources and viewing links
Primary coverage and background are available from CBS Los Angeles — Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow third egg, Feb. 24, 2026. FOBBV video updates and nest-cam footage: “Circle of Life” and “A Perfect Pair”. Live stream and daily updates are available through Friends of the Big Bear Valley channels and social feeds (CBS Los Angeles; FOBBV video; FOBBV video).
Note to watchers: Use the Eagle Nest Cam live feed to follow incubation as it progresses and consider supporting the volunteers who sustain this local conservation effort.
