Egg elation: Egg #2 arrives for Jackie and Shadow, the Big Bear bald eagles
What to Know
- Jackie and Shadow are the world-famous bald eagles of Big Bear Lake
- Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit, operate a camera that observes the birds’ nest around the clock
- The pair welcomed the first egg of the 2026 on Jan. 23
- The second egg arrived Jan. 26
If only we humans were as prompt, and on top of our time commitments, as the pair of beloved bald eagles holding majestic court near Big Bear Lake.
We are, of course, talking about Jackie and Shadow, the bonded birds that have captivated a worldwide audience over the last several years via an around-the-clock feed delivered by a nest-close camera managed by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The duo’s devoted fans recognize late January as “Egg Watch” time, the moment on the calendar when Jackie generally lays her first egg.
That happy event occurred Jan. 23, 2026 at 4:32:24 in the afternoon, following Jackie displaying signs of active egg-laying behaviors (sometimes referred to as “tea-kettling,” due to the low-whistling sounds the eagle makes).
In the past, Jackie has laid her second egg three days after the first within the same general afternoon window, down to the minute, or nearly. It’s a feathery fact that has kept bird watchers rapt in years gone by.
So you can bet that Jan. 26 was circled on many calendars after the first egg arrived Jan. 23.
The sweet arrival wasn’t quite to the minute, but Jackie laid her second egg a little after 5 p.m., following some kettle-like whistles and feather-fluffing, another sign that an egg is imminent.
She did provide a quick peek at both eggs sitting together in the deep, well-constructed egg bowl, but soon return to incubating her brood.
The incubation period for a bald eagle runs around 35 days, give or take, though as is often said on the eagle-watching sites “the birds are in charge.”
The question on many minds may now be this: Will another egg grace our eagle-obsessed worlds in just another three days? The bald eagles have had three-egg clutches before, so there is a possibility.
Keep your talons pointed at the eagle nest and keep your hopes high as as the Jeffrey pine tree where the famous nest is snugly located.
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