The wind howls across the San Bernardino Mountains, whipping through the Jeffrey Pine that holds the most famous real estate in Big Bear. If you've spent any time on YouTube lately, you know exactly which tree I'm talking about. It’s the home of Jackie and Shadow. This bald eagle power couple has captivated millions, not just because they’re majestic, but because they are the definition of "it's complicated."
Everyone is currently on the edge of their seat waiting for the Jackie and Shadow eagle eggs hatching news to break. But here’s the thing: nature doesn't follow a script.
Last year, in 2025, we actually got the miracle. Three eggs. Three pips. Three fuzzy heads. It was a rollercoaster. After the 2024 season ended in heartbreak with three eggs that never hatched despite Jackie sitting through a brutal 62-hour snow burial, the 2025 success felt like a collective win for the internet. Two of those chicks, Sunny and Gizmo, eventually flew the coop. One, sadly, didn't make it through an early storm. That’s the wild for you. It’s beautiful and it’s ruthless.
What’s happening in the nest right now?
As of mid-January 2026, we are officially in "The Wait."
Jackie and Shadow have been busy with what the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) call "nestorations." Basically, they’re interior decorating with sticks the size of small logs. Shadow, ever the overachiever, recently hauled up a branch so big it looked like he was trying to add a second story to the house.
🔗 Read more: Johnny Somali AI Deepfake: What Really Happened in South Korea
- The Eye Scare: Just a week ago, fans panicked. Jackie was seen squinting her left eye. People were losing it in the chat. Was it an injury? A poke from a stick? Thankfully, by the next day, she was wide-eyed and alert.
- Pancaking: If you see Jackie lying flat as a crepe in the nest bowl, she’s "pancaking." She’s testing the fit. She’s feeling the internal clock ticking.
- The Fish Gifts: Shadow has been bringing in "feesh" (as the regulars call them) and handing them over to Jackie. This is courtship 101 in the eagle world. It’s his way of saying, "I can provide for the kids."
Historically, Jackie lays her eggs in late January. In 2025, the first egg arrived on January 22nd. In 2024, it was January 25th. If the pattern holds, we are literally days away from seeing that first white sphere.
Why do some eggs fail to hatch?
It’s the question that haunts the comment section every time a 35-day window passes without a pip.
Honestly, the odds are stacked against them. Big Bear is at a high altitude—around 6,700 feet. The air is thin. Oxygen levels are lower than at sea-level nests. Then there’s the cold. When those "Atmospheric Rivers" dump feet of snow on the nest, Jackie has to keep those eggs at a steady $105^\circ F$ ($40.5^\circ C$). If the internal temperature of the egg drops too far for too long, development just stops.
Biologists like Sandy Steers, the executive director of FOBBV, often remind us that we don’t know everything. Sometimes it’s a fertility issue. Sometimes it’s a shell thickness problem. In 2024, the eggs were likely non-viable from the start, or perhaps the extreme cold during the laying process did them in.
💡 You might also like: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
The miracle of the "Pip"
When the Jackie and Shadow eagle eggs hatching process finally begins, it starts with a tiny hole called a "pip."
The chick has a specialized "egg tooth" on the end of its beak. It’s a temporary tool used to break through the internal membrane and then the hard outer shell. This isn't a fast process. It’s exhausting. Imagine trying to break out of a concrete room using only your nose. It can take 24 to 48 hours from the first crack to a wet, wobbling chick emerging.
Watching it live is nerve-wracking. You’ll see Jackie stand up, look down intensely, and you might hear a faint "cheep" through the nest cam microphone. That’s when the internet usually breaks.
Survival by the numbers
It’s easy to get attached. We give them names. We watch them sleep. But the statistics are sobering.
📖 Related: Will Palestine Ever Be Free: What Most People Get Wrong
- Only about 50% of bald eagle eggs successfully hatch in the wild.
- Roughly half of the fledglings survive their first year.
- Jackie is around 14 years old; Shadow is about 12. They are in their prime, which is good news for the 2026 season.
What to look for this week
If you’re tuning into the live stream, keep an eye on Jackie’s behavior. When she starts staying in the nest bowl for long periods, even when it’s not snowing, she’s likely within hours of laying. Once the eggs are down, the 35-to-38-day countdown begins.
Shadow is a great dad, but he’s a bit of a klutz. He’s been known to try and sit on the eggs while Jackie is still there, or bring in sticks that almost poke her in the head. It’s that human-like domestic drama that makes people keep coming back. They aren't just birds; they’re a family we’ve been invited to watch.
Actionable Insights for Eagle Watchers:
- Check the "Daily Recap": Don’t rely on rumors in the YouTube chat. The FOBBV website maintains a professional log of every stick, fish, and "beaky kiss."
- Respect the Closure: If you live near Big Bear, stay away from the nest area. The Forest Service closes the vicinity to prevent human interference. Stress can cause eagles to abandon their eggs.
- Watch the Weather: Snow is expected this week. Watch how they work together to keep the nest bowl dry. It’s a masterclass in survival.
We are entering the most critical window of the year. Whether we get three chicks like last year or a quiet nest, Jackie and Shadow will keep doing what they’ve done for a decade: persevering against the mountain. Keep your eyes on the "pip watch" updates; the next few days could change everything.
To stay updated on the exact moment the first egg arrives, bookmark the official Friends of Big Bear Valley live feed and check the timestamped logs daily.