The skies over Big Bear Valley have a little more to celebrate this spring. Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow are parents once again after both of their eggs hatched over the weekend, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The first eaglet made its arrival at approximately 9:30 p.m. on April 4, with the wildlife organization tracking the event through its live nest camera. Earlier that day, Friends of Big Bear Valley noted that a bird is not considered fully hatched until it is completely free from its shell.
“The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!” a Facebook post said. The post also noted that the second egg had begun to pip.Bald Eagle Pair Jackie and Shadow Are Parents Again! But What’s a ‘Pip’?
Bald Eagle Pair Jackie and Shadow Are Parents Once Again! But What’s a ‘Pip’?
For those unfamiliar with the hatching process, the organization explained that a “pip” is when a chick breaks through the internal membrane, breaches the shell and takes its first breath of air. They added that it can take 24 to 48 hours for a chick to fully hatch after this stage.
That timeline proved faster than expected for the second eaglet, which hatched just before 9 a.m. on April 5 — about 12 hours after the first. Friends of Big Bear Valley confirmed both chicks appeared healthy.
Proud Parents Jackie and Shadow Step Into Action
With two new mouths to feed, Jackie and Shadow have their work cut out for them. The group said the parents would feed the eaglets small pieces of fish or other prey. After hatching, eaglets grow quickly and can reach approximately three feet in size in just over two months.
Following the second hatching, Shadow returned to the nest. Volunteers said he appeared “quite proud and didn’t waste any time snuggling in for daddy duty.”
The moment was a heartwarming one for the many viewers who follow the pair through a live nest camera operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley, which has documented the pair for several years.
This season’s successful hatch came after early setbacks. Jackie and Shadow previously raised eaglets in 2019, 2022 and 2025. Earlier this season, the pair laid four eggs, but two were destroyed during a raven attack.
Jackie later laid a second clutch of eggs on February 24 and February 27, setting the stage for this weekend’s double hatching and giving fans of the eagle family renewed hope.
The Naming Tradition for Jackie and Shadow’s Offspring Continues
With two healthy eaglets now in the nest, the question on many viewers’ minds is what the chicks will be called. Despite calls from the public to name one of the chicks Sandy, after late wildlife activist Sandy Steers, who helped spearhead the FOBBV nest camera, the organization said the naming process would remain the same as always with a vote by local third graders.
They said that the process was something that brought Steers great joy over her “years of tireless environmental work in the valley and her love for the eagles.”
It is a fitting tribute — keeping a beloved tradition alive while honoring the legacy of someone who made it all possible.
