The past two mating seasons have ended in heartbreak for Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow.
Thousands of fans eagerly following the birds’ antics via webcams were shocked when the lovebirds’ eggs were eaten by crows in 2023. After 62 hours, none of their three eggs had hatched, and fans were devastated as they watched over them through the fierce blizzard.
The pair were spotted mating for the first time this season on Sunday, rekindling hopes that the couple will successfully raise an eaglet (or two) in the new year.
“I’ve watched it long enough to know that things are going to happen, and we just have to accept what nature brings,” said Sandy Stiles, a biologist and longtime executive director of Friends of the Big Bear Valley. “But I’m optimistic and excited to look forward to whatever adventure we’ll have this year.”
Friends of Big Bear Valley has been operating bald eagle webcams since 2015. Stiles said network camera ratings hit a record high last March, when about 32,000 people tuned in to watch Jackie’s eggs hatch.
Fans were drawn to Big Bird’s big personality and humorous relationships.
“Jackie was very strong, independent and wanted to do everything her own way,” Stiles said. Shadow often lets Jackie do whatever he wants, but there’s also a playful Steak who won’t hesitate to pull her tail feathers when she’s not looking.
Luckily, Jackie was charmed by Shadow’s cheekiness, and his teasing often resulted in “beak kisses,” she said.
Bald eagles are one of the rare animals that mate for life, finding a new mate only after the previous mate dies.
This iconic American bird nearly became extinct in the 1960s after the pesticide DDT poisoned eagles, leaving their eggs fragile and fragile. In the early 1970s, there were fewer than 30 nesting pairs in all of California, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Their numbers have rebounded from the brink of extinction thanks to a ban on the use of DDT in 1972 and a successful campaign to protect their habitat and encourage their breeding. Now, on some days, California’s bald eagle population exceeds 1,000, according to Fish and Wildlife.
Still, they remain an endangered species in the state, which means there’s more at stake than fans’ feelings when it comes to Jackie and Shadow’s breeding efforts.
Sadly, the odds were not in their favor.
Stiles said the hatching rate for bald eagle eggs is typically 50-50. According to the American Eagle Foundation, after hatching, less than 50% of young eagles survive their first year.
In Big Bear Valley, Jackie and Shadow face additional environmental challenges.
Stiles said their nest, located 145 feet above the ground in a Jeffrey pine tree, is the highest bald eagle nest in the country observed by a webcam. The community of Big Bear Lake itself is nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.
Low oxygen levels at high altitudes are one reason Friends of Big Bear Valley suspect three of Jackie’s eggs failed to hatch last year. Cold, snowy winters and rainy springs also reduce the young eagles’ chances of survival.
Jackie had previously lost two six-week-old chicks to the cold after a heavy rainstorm. Steele said the eaglets were too old to adapt to her feathers but too young to fully develop their own waterproof feathers.
In 2022, the couple successfully gave birth to an eaglet named “Spirit”, which was considered a small miracle by many.
Despite previous failures, this year the lovebirds continued to reconnect with each other and work on breeding chicks.
Stiles said Shadow has been busy over the past few weeks bringing sticks to the nest to attract Jackie and build their home. On Friday, Jackie brought a fish to the nest – a sign she was getting ready to hunker down and lay her eggs.
Stiles hopes the couple will have an eaglet this season, but whatever happens, she’s glad so many people care.
“Our whole goal is to be able to allow people to see nature in everyday life so that they can really appreciate what’s going on and fall in love with nature,” she said. “It’s beautiful to watch—someone will say, ‘I never knew nature was so tough,’ or, ‘Wow, it’s amazing to see what these birds are doing.'”
See the live webcam here.
