Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow watch over 2nd egg in Big Bear
A snowstorm in Big Bear didn’t prevent bald eagles Jackie and Shadow from producing and watching over a second egg.
Jackie delivered her second egg on Jan. 14 amid wintry weather in the San Bernardino National Forest. The couple’s first egg came on Jan. 11.
The eagle parents have been sharing egg-warming duties at the family’s nest in a 14-story Jeffrey pine tree.
Eagle eggs typically incubate for about 35 days, which means the couple could welcome new eaglets right around Valentine’s Day.
The group Friends of Big Bear Valley, which installed the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest Cam, said More than 3,200 people were viewing the video feed Tuesday afternoon. It showed an eagle nestling on the eggs as winds blew through the snow-covered forest.
Chasing ravens away
On Wednesday, Jackie put out an all-points alert to Shadow that ravens were circling the nest, Friends of Big Bear Valley spokesperson Sandy Steers posted to Facebook.
“Shadow chortled back an answer immediately and came flying in with some pretty fancy aerobatics as he zipped past the nest to chase those ravens away from the area,” Steers said. “After his swift response, he circled back and landed on the front porch to help Jackie guard the nest.”
Both eagles yelled out loud and continuous warnings to the ravens that they’d better not return. And Jackie sat over her eggs the whole time to make sure they were protected.
“It’s pretty clear that Shadow really likes taking his shifts on the eggs—he argues with Jackie every time she comes back to take over, letting her know that he isn’t finished yet,” Steers said. “And sometimes even making little disgruntled noises when she makes him get up.”
Miracle baby
The eagle couple’s first eaglet, Spirit, who was born in March 2022, was considered a miracle baby by many.
In 2020 and 2021, Jackie’s clutches of eggs were either eaten by ravens or didn’t hatch.
Jackie’s and Shadow’s son, Cookie, died of apparent hypothermia during a storm on Memorial Day weekend 2019.
Simba was the couple’s last youth to successfully take flight and fledged in 2019.
In May 2022, Spirit climbed awkwardly up to a branch jutting out from the eagle family’s 14-story Jeffrey pine tree. Spirit stood there for nearly a minute before spreading her wings and taking her first flight.
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: Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow watch over 2nd egg in Big Bear
