Jackie and Shadow are officially back in baby season. The beloved Big Bear bald eagle pair laid their first egg Friday afternoon, kicking off what could be another closely watched chapter in Southern California’s most popular wildlife saga.

 Friends of Big Bear Valley’s Nest Cam announced the moment with an all-caps celebration — “The 1st Egg Is Here!” — immediately lighting up comment sections from Big Bear to beyond.

Here’s what to know about the latest Jackie and Shadow developments.

How Jackie and Shadow’s egg laying went down on Friday

The first sign that something big was happening came just after 4:22 p.m., when the Friends of Big Bear Valley’s (FOBBV) Nest Cam caught Jackie shifting her weight and showing classic pre-labor movements. Viewers watched as she braced herself over the nest bowl, her feathers lifting slightly — a telltale sign for longtime eagle watchers.

At 4:27 p.m., Jackie stood up, repositioned, and began the final moments of labor. By 4:32 p.m., the egg appeared beneath her in clear view of the camera, gleaming against the soft nest down. FOBBV Executive Director Sandy Steer announced the moment immediately: “The 1st Egg Is Here!”

After a few moments of rest, Jackie gently adjusted the egg and settled her body around it for warmth. Then, at 4:41 p.m., Shadow arrived — landing with his usual burst of speed. He leaned in, looked directly at the new egg, and stayed only briefly before taking off again, leaving Jackie to resume incubation duties.

Whether more eggs will follow remains unknown. Historically, Jackie lays her second egg roughly 48–72 hours after the first, making early‑week watchers especially alert.

The saga of Big Bear’s most famous eagles

Jackie and Shadow’s legacy has become part wildlife documentary, part internet serial drama — and their fanbase treats each nesting season like appointment viewing.

Jackie, believed to be the first bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear in 2012, was originally named “Jack” until her adult plumage made her identity clear. Shadow, hatched in 2015, joined her as a mate in 2018.

The pair’s early seasons were filled with setbacks: eggs lost to ravens, clutches that didn’t hatch, and storm-heavy winters that tested even the hardiest raptors. But 2022 marked a turning point with the arrival of their first successful chick, Spirit.

Their 2025 season became a statewide sensation. Jackie laid three eggs; two eaglets — Gizmo and Sunny — survived one of the most brutal storm cycles Big Bear had seen in years. A third chick died days after hatching, underscoring the razor-thin line between survival and loss in the wild.

Gizmo and Sunny eventually fledged and were spotted periodically through late summer. Whether they still pass over the area or have ventured out to explore the region’s lakes and valleys remains one of FOBBV’s enduring mysteries.

Today, Jackie is 13 and Shadow is 11 — seasoned parents whose instinct and resilience have built them a devoted following across California and beyond.

While Jackie and Shadow captivate audiences locally, they’re also part of one of America’s largest wildlife recovery success stories.

Once on the brink of extinction — with just 417 nesting pairs counted in 1963 — bald eagles were devastated by habitat loss, illegal killing, and the pesticide DDT, which caused eggshells so thin they often collapsed during incubation.

The results have stunned scientists. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now estimates 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states — a population four times larger than in 2009.

But the threats haven’t vanished. About 30% of eaglets don’t survive their first year, with weather, disease, food scarcity, and human intrusion still posing serious risks. Each successful hatch, including those in Big Bear, carries real weight.

What’s next for Jackie and Shadow?

The pair’s season is officially underway, and eagle-watchers will be glued to the nest cam for signs of a second or third egg — something Jackie often produces within a few days of the first.

Over the next five weeks, Jackie and Shadow will take turns incubating, rearranging nest materials, and reinforcing the 145-foot-high Jeffrey pine platform they’ve relied on for years.

If all goes well, Big Bear could meet its newest eaglets in early March.

Until then, the livestream — available on the FOBBV YouTube channels — will remain the place where thousands gather daily to watch California’s most famous wildlife family, one ruffle of feathers at a time.