Artist paints bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, who appeared on NCIS TV show

The popular bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow were featured Monday night on the CBS TV show "NCIS."

Less than three minutes into the show, two NCIS agents with cell phones are watching the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Cam, installed by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley to monitor the eagles 24/7.

The agents mention “Shadow” and watching a “bald eagle’s nest in the Yukon Territory” in northwest Canada despite the feed showing the nest in Big Bear. One agent says the two eggs are ready to hatch, but no eagle parent is in sight, and the mother has been gone for three hours.

The eagles are mentioned sporadically throughout the show as the NCIS team investigates who is responsible for a potential bio-terror attack at a strip mall parking garage.

Later in the show, one agent receives a notification on his phone that the mother eagle has returned to the nest.

As he holds up the phone showing the two eagles in the nest, the agent exclaims that “it's a major relief” that the mother and father have returned.

After talking about the eagles with his less-than-interested colleagues, another NCIS agent receives a notification on her computer monitor, which includes a video feed of the eagles.

“Ever since you showed me the nest, I can’t look away,” the woman says.

Monday night’s "NCIS" episode is dubbed “Butterfly Effect” from Season 20, Episode 16.

Painting the eagles

Fascinated by Jackie and Shadow's love story, Apple Valley artist and bird-watcher Debbie Saude grabbed her paintbrushes and went to work.

“Jackie and Shadow’s story is so bittersweet,” Saude told the Daily Press. “They’re so inspiring, mainly because they’ve been so dedicated to each other through the good and bad times.”

In early March, Jackie and Shadow abandoned their two eggs weeks after they were due to hatch in a family nest in Big Bear around Valentine’s Day.

Last year, Saude joined thousands of online viewers who watched the eagle family via the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Cam.

“Despite the rain and snow, they huddled together and shared the responsibility of sitting on those eggs,” said Saude, the president of the nonprofit Artists of the High Desert. “They are inspiring.”

For her painting, Saude used good-quality acrylic paints on a linen canvas. It took her less than 48 hours to complete her piece.

“I used acrylic because it dries faster between sessions,” Saude said. “I also used a reference photo from a photographer who gave me permission.”

A frequent visitor to Big Bear, Saude said she often sees bald eagles and other birds flying among the trees and over the lake.

“I love predatory birds, there is something about the way they look,” Saude said. “They have sharp talons and beaks, and eyes that are so focused.”

Saude’s recently completed painting is of quail, with a future project a Stellar Jay, sometimes called long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pine jay.

The bird’s preferred habitat is that of high-elevation coniferous forests, according to the American Bird Conservancy.

A familiar sight at western campgrounds and picnic areas, the jay has subtly beautiful plumage of sooty black and rich blue shades that help it blend into its shaded forest surroundings.

Its wings and tail are blue barred with black, and it has a distinctive tall and shaggy black crest, the ABC said

“I’m going to keep an eye on Jackie and Shadow and that nest for another egg or two,” Saude said. “I think a lot of people are hoping they have more eaglets.”

Sandy Steers, a Big Bear resident and executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, said Jackie has laid eggs as late as March.

Steers also added that she and Shadow were seen mating since the original eggs were laid, “so anything is possible. As always, they and mother nature get to determine what happens from here.”

Saude’s Jackie and Shadow painting, along with other works, will be available to view or purchase on March 24 at the Wild Coyote Gallery at 40772 Village Drive in Big Bear Lake.

“I like what the Bald Eagle symbolizes. They are a strong, proud bird with sharp features,” she said. “Big Bear’s Bald Eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, are giving us a glimpse into nature.”

Nest happenings

Steers said over the last few days, Jackie and Shadow have not spent much time at the nest, but have been hanging out in the nest area, using all of their favorite perch trees.

“Thursday afternoon, when Shadow brought lunch to the nest, Jackie was hot on his tail,” Steers said. “They were apparently working from different understandings of the situation. Jackie, as usual, loudly demanded that all food coming to the nest is hers. After all, she lays the eggs. Shadow, however, apparently decided that since there are no eggs, he would keep the lunch for himself.”

Jackie is over 30% bigger than Shadow and weighs more, so if she is serious enough about the food, she can get it, Steers said.

“After chowing down, Jackie was hanging out on her favorite perch tree, when a sub-adult landed on the same tree,” Steers said. “Jackie chortled at it and slapped her wings, announcing that she was not pleased to have it there. The other eagle moved farther away from Jackie but stayed on that same tree for almost 10 minutes.”

When the sub-adult flew, Shadow zipped after it toward the nest and Jackie took off to help. Shadow chased the intruder right past the nest before flying in to stand guard.

“He shouted that intruder away, and even moved a small stick in the nest, laying full claim,” Steers said. “When the visitor landed in a nearby perch tree, Shadow and Jackie continued to shout at it from both directions, telling it to vacate their territory.”

There has been lots of speculation that the visiting sub-adult was Spirit, Jackie and Shadow’s chick from last year. The markings on the visitor show it to be at least two or three years old, so it was not Spirit, Steers said.

Miracle baby

Jackie and Shadow’s first eaglet, Spirit, was born in March 2022 and was considered a miracle eaglet by many.

In May 2022, Spirit climbed awkwardly up to a branch jutting out from the eagle family’s tree. Spirit stood there for nearly a minute before spreading her wings and taking her first flight.

In 2020 and 2021, Jackie’s clutches of eggs were either eaten by ravens or didn’t hatch.

Jackie and Shadow’s son, Cookie, died of apparent hypothermia during a storm on Memorial Day weekend 2019.

Simba was the couple’s young eaglet who took flight and fledged in 2019.

The live feed from the eagle's nest can be viewed on the FOBBV CAM YouTube channel.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Artist paints bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, who appeared on NCIS TV show