Jackie and Shadow
Jackie (c. 2012) and Shadow (c. 2014) are a wild female and male bald eagle couple who reside near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California. Their attempts to hatch and raise offspring have been live-streamed by Friends of Big Bear Valley since 2018.
History
[edit]Bald eagles from points farther north, such as Idaho or Canada, migrate to Big Bear Valley, but most do not stay year-round.[1] San Bernardino National Forest rangers discovered in 2012 that this area had become nesting territory for eagles.[2] As of 2020, Jackie and Shadow were the only year-round bald eagle residents at Big Bear Lake.[1]
Jackie, believed to be the first eaglet hatched in Big Bear Valley,[3] came to the public's attention in 2017, when she and her mate took over an abandoned nest beside a live-stream camera installed by Friends of Big Bear Valley.[4] Shadow came to the public's attention one year later, when he replaced Jackie's mate at that nest.[5] The nest itself is 145 feet (44 m) above ground in a Jeffrey pine in the National Forest near Fawnskin.[6] As the tree is near a parking lot, picnic area, and campsite, the Forest Service closes these facilities during nesting season each year, only reopening the area once the offspring have fledged.[7]
The live-stream gained significant attention in 2023, when Jackie and Shadow attempted to hatch eggs despite multiple atmospheric rivers that brought 45 inches (1.1 m) of snow to the area.[3][8] As of February 2024, Jackie and Shadow have laid 14+ eggs together, five of which have hatched, with two or three of the eaglets surviving into adulthood.[9][10][11][12]
In 2025, the pair successfully hatched three eggs, but one eaglet died a few days after hatching, during a winter storm.[13] The two surviving eaglets were later named Sunny and Gizmo. The names, chosen from 54,000 submissions, were voted on by third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Big Bear Elementary School.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Forgione, Mary (January 22, 2020). "How a pair of bald eagles became Southern California rock stars". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Wigglesworth, Alex (July 24, 2019). "Watch this Big Bear bald eagle chick fly for the first time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ a b Myers, Amanda Lee (March 6, 2023). "Highs, lows and heartbreak: How a pair of California eagles developed a worldwide fanbase". USA Today.
- ^ Sharp, Julie (March 4, 2025). "Big Bear nest welcomes 2 baby eaglets, making Jackie and Shadow proud parents". CBS Los Angeles. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ Terri Robertson (February 25, 2024). "This Bald Eagle Nest Cam in California's Big Bear Valley Will Melt Your Heart". Country Living.
- ^ Cruz, Rene Ray De La (March 6, 2025). "Fans in frenzy as Jackie and Shadow's third eagle egg begins to hatch in Big Bear nest". Victorville Daily Press.
- ^ Forgione, Mary (June 26, 2019). "Watch webcam of Big Bear's eagle chick trying to fly, but don't go near it". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ "Jackie and Shadow / Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Cam". Know Your Meme. February 27, 2023.
- ^ Myers, Amanda Lee (February 3, 2023). "California bald eagles care for 3 eggs as global fans root for successful hatching". USA Today.
- ^ "Blizzard babies? Pip watch has begun for bald eagles Jackie and Shadow as storm rolls in". Los Angeles Times. February 29, 2024.
- ^ Robyn White (March 7, 2023). "Bald eagles who gripped the internet finally abandon eggs that won't hatch". Newsweek.
- ^ Marcos, Coral Murphy (March 4, 2025). "Pair of bald eagles welcome two hatchlings in California". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ Cohen, Rebecca; Liviakis, Audrey (March 15, 2025). "Eaglet that disappeared from nest in California 'did not make it'". NBC News.
- ^ Yu, Yi-Jin (April 2, 2025). "Jackie and Shadow's internet-famous eaglets get names". ABC News.