Big Bear eagles’ third egg brings fresh hope after raven raid; volunteers, scientists watch closely on Jackie and Shadow nest cam
Big Bear Lake (Our Hesperia) – Jackie and Shadow, Big Bear Lake’s bald eagles, laid a new egg Feb. 24 — the start of a second clutch after ravens destroyed two January eggs — drawing global attention on the Friends of the Big Bear Valley nest cam.
- New egg laid Feb. 24: Jackie inspected and settled on the egg while Shadow returned minutes later to assist incubation.
- After the raid: This clutch follows the Jan. 30 raven breach that rendered two earlier eggs nonviable.
- Biology and timing: Bald eagle eggs typically incubate ~35 days; a second egg in the clutch is possible.
- Local stewardship: The Friends of the Big Bear Valley nest cam (FOBBV) and volunteers remain central to monitoring and outreach.
Nesting timeline and the raven attack
Timeline: Jackie laid two eggs on Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, a normal spacing for bald eagles. On Jan. 30, ravens probed the nest while both adults were absent for several hours; observers reported Shadow left around noon and Jackie did not return quickly enough to prevent the attack. Both eggs were breached and rendered nonviable.
Livestream archives on the FOBBV YouTube channel document the raid and show Jackie briefly incubating a breached egg afterward, illustrating parental instinct even when an egg is damaged.
The new egg: scene on the Jackie and Shadow nest cam
On Feb. 24, viewers on the Friends of the Big Bear Valley nest cam watched Jackie stand and reveal the fresh egg around 2:30 p.m., rearrange nesting material, and settle down. Shadow returned minutes later to support incubation duties. FOBBV volunteers posted that “Jackie did a great job and she is now resting,” though it was not yet clear whether she would lay more eggs this season.
“Jackie did a great job and she is now resting.” — Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV)
Biology and odds: what the new egg means
Incubation: Bald eagle eggs generally require about 35 days of incubation before hatching. Because eagles often lay eggs every three days, another egg could follow and extend the clutch’s incubation period.
Historically in Big Bear Valley, about a dozen eggs have been laid since 2012, with only a fraction hatching and surviving to adulthood. Roughly half of eaglets reach adulthood, which underscores the fragility of nesting success and why each hatch draws attention and local pride.
Local stewardship and the role of FOBBV
The Jackie and Shadow nest cam is run by Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a volunteer group whose livestreams provide continuous observation of nesting behavior. The cam includes a close-up Cam 1 and a wider Cam 2 view, and volunteers log behavior that can assist wildlife professionals studying breeding timing and threats.
The cam also serves as an educational tool, connecting a global audience to local responsibility. Volunteers maintain the stream, monitor activity, and alert viewers to potential threats while fostering conservation-minded behavior in the community.
Conservation context and local history
The first recorded bald eagle chick in Big Bear Valley hatched in 2012 and fledged successfully. Jackie and Shadow have produced successful nests in 2019, 2022, and 2025 — including eaglets known to followers as Sunny and Gizmo — but many eggs do not hatch or young do not survive to adulthood. Protecting habitat and minimizing disturbance remain important for future success.
Investigative look: what more can be done to protect nests?
- Nest vulnerability: Monitor adult movement patterns on the FOBBV channel to identify windows that may attract ravens.
- Predator management vs. natural behavior: Ravens are native and protected; indirect measures (habitat maintenance, reducing human-derived food sources) are preferred over removal.
- Community engagement: Outreach to visitors and homeowners can reduce disturbance and support volunteer monitoring efforts.
Viewer reaction and the global audience
Supporters worldwide reacted strongly after the Jan. 30 loss and expressed renewed hope when the new egg appeared. Live-chat, social posts, and FOBBV comments mixed heartbreak with optimism as viewers watched the pair resume incubation and nest maintenance.
Implications for Hesperia, California
Economic and tourism ties: Attention to Jackie and Shadow can boost tourism for nearby communities, including businesses in Hesperia that serve visitors traveling to Big Bear Lake.
Local conservation and civic pride: Hesperia stakeholders can use the renewed focus to promote volunteerism, outdoor education, and conservation programs modeled on private stewardship and community-driven efforts.
Policy and land management: The egg’s arrival is a reminder of regional habitat priorities — preserving shoreline, water quality, and fish populations supports raptors and local economies while aligning with voluntary, community-based conservation strategies.
Practical steps for Hesperia stakeholders
- Support volunteer programs and conservation groups that monitor regional wildlife.
- Use cam footage for educational outreach to teach respectful behavior around nesting birds.
- Work with planners on voluntary easements and community conservation projects to preserve habitat.
- Encourage wildlife-friendly messaging for visitors heading to Big Bear Lake.
Sources and further viewing
Reporting and archived footage cited in this article:
- CBS Los Angeles coverage
- ABC7 coverage
- FOBBV Cam channel (archived livestreams)
- Recent cam highlight video 1
- Recent cam highlight video 2
Reporting for local readers continues as Jackie and Shadow settle into incubation and viewers worldwide follow daily activity on the Jackie and Shadow nest cam.
