After a challenging start to the season, the famous bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow have successfully hatched two new eaglets in the San Bernardino National Forest. This milestone marks a significant moment for the pair, who have become global symbols of wildlife conservation through their 24-hour livestreamed nest.
A Successful Hatch After Early Setbacks
The nesting season for these internet-famous eagles has been anything but predictable. In January, the pair faced an early setback when ravens destroyed two of their initial eggs. However, resilience is a key trait in the wild; Jackie and Shadow laid two replacement eggs that have now successfully hatched:
- Chick 1: Hatched on April 4 at 9:33 p.m. PDT.
- Chick 2: Hatched on April 5 at 8:30 a.m. PDT.
The chicks are currently being raised in their large nest in Big Bear Valley, east of Los Angeles. The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) monitors the nest, providing the public with a window into the lives of these majestic birds.
Survival and Sibling Rivalry
Life in the nest is a constant balance of care and competition. Jackie and Shadow have established a rhythmic routine, alternating between guarding the chicks and hunting for fish in Big Bear Lake. During recent heavy rainstorms, Jackie has been observed staying on the nest to ensure the eaglets remain warm and dry.
As the chicks grow, they are already exhibiting natural behaviors:
– “Bonking”: The siblings have been seen pecking and pushing one another during feedings.
– Pecking Order: This behavior is a vital part of avian development. The dominant chick typically eats first, while the smaller sibling must learn to navigate the hierarchy—either by waiting for scraps or timing meals around the larger chick’s rest periods.
The Path Ahead: Naming and Identification
The next few months will bring more milestones for the eaglets and their community of followers.
- Gender Identification: Once the chicks reach approximately 10 weeks of age, the FOBBV team will attempt to determine their sex by analyzing their size, vocal pitch, and physical characteristics.
- The Naming Tradition: Following local tradition, the naming of the chicks will be decided by a contest involving third, fourth, and fifth-grade students from a nearby elementary school in the San Bernardino Valley.
Context: The Resilience of Jackie and Shadow
To understand the significance of this hatch, one must look at the pair’s recent history. While Jackie and Shadow have been a pair since 2018 and saw success in 2019 and 2022, the last two years were difficult, with eggs failing to hatch in 2023 and 2024.
Even their most recent success in 2025 was met with hardship; a severe snowstorm in March resulted in the loss of one of their three chicks. Given that, on average, only about 50 percent of eagle eggs successfully hatch, Jackie and Shadow’s ability to successfully raise a brood despite environmental pressures and predation is a testament to their strength as a pair.
While the livestream offers a front-row seat to nature’s beauty, it also serves as a reminder of its volatility; in the wild, survival is never guaranteed.
Conclusion
The arrival of these two new eaglets provides a much-needed boost to the local eagle population and a moment of joy for the millions watching online. As the chicks grow, they will continue to face the unpredictable challenges of the natural world.
