New eggs brings hope to eagle couple Jackie and Shadow in San Bernardino National Forest
There are two new bald eagle eggs in one mountain community, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The famous bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow on Jan. 21 showed off their one egg in their nest, the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam showed on Facebook. Then on Tuesday, Jackie laid a second egg.
Many followers of the eagles are hoping Jackie and Shadow successfully have chicks after the couple last year lost multiple eggs and one chick.
“We will continue watching for a second egg,” said U.S. Forest Service Officials on Jan. 22. “Bald eagles typically lay between one and three eggs, with two being the most frequent number.”
On Tuesday, the eagle couple was still watching over their single egg in their nest located in the San Bernardino National Forest.
At one point, Jackie was seen lying in the nest and making squealing sounds as Shadow watched over her. Later, she flew off, and he sat on the egg.
Just after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Forest Service announced online that a second egg had been laid.
Forest officials said based on the usual pattern, Jackie was expected to lay the second egg about three days after the first and then incubate them for about 35 days.
At 7,000 feet in elevation, this is the highest known bald eagle nest in a portion of the forest. It is closed to all public entry.
Human disturbance during the nesting season can cause eagles to abandon their nests, the Forest Service said.
Friends of Big Bear Valley
From the first signs she would lay an egg to her last contraction, Jackie’s first labor lasted about five minutes, the friends group said.
Though the eagle was heard making some squeals, similar to tea kettle sounds, it didn’t seem as loud as previous years, and the process seemed to go smoothly.
“Many ask if she feels pain, we are sure she does, but to what level of discomfort we do not know,” the group said.
In the future, you are likely to see Jackie standing or hovering over the egg for periods instead of laying on it full time.
She is practicing delayed incubation. The eagles will do this until the last egg of the clutch is laid. This allows the egg(s) to cool down, and it slows development so all eggs will hatch closer together, giving the younger chicks a better chance of survival as they are all closer in size/age. Historically, Jackie lays her eggs three days apart.
Both Jackie and Shadow have been bringing in soft nesting materials for the last couple of days and will continue to do so throughout the incubation period.
Persevering eagles
In 2020, Jackie laid two eggs that didn’t hatch and were eaten by ravens. Unfortunately, the same fate befell the first two eggs the eagle mother laid last year, while a third broke last January.
Jackie went on to lay a record-setting two more last February. The fourth egg caused excitement online when it began to pip or show a break in its shell on March 18.
The next day, no chirps were heard from the nest. The chick had died. The fifth egg laid never hatched.
Search Friends of Big Bear Valley on Facebook or visit Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam (FOBBV CAM) on Youtube to watch the live eagle cam.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Instagram @RenegadeReporter and Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: New eggs brings hope to eagle couple Jackie and Shadow
