On the morning of February 28, 2026, as the first light crept over Big Bear Lake, something quietly changed in the nest. Jackie had guarded her eggs through the night. The forest was still. The air was cold. Then she lifted her head and began calling into the valley. Her morning vocals were strong and deliberate, echoing across the trees. Shadow answered. Within moments, she rose from the nest bowl and flew toward the Lookout Snag for her sunrise break. And that is when it happened. Shadow flew in to relieve her — and discovered there were now two eggs waiting in the nest.

Watch Live <—— nest & approach cams

A Sunrise Handoff, A Surprising Discovery

The exchange looked routine at first. Jackie out. Shadow in. A pattern this pair knows well. But when Shadow stepped toward the nest bowl, he paused. He looked down. Two smooth white eggs rested in the center.

The first egg he knew. The second had arrived since his last close inspection. For a brief moment, he simply stood there, taking it in. Two futures. Two fragile shells. One father stepping carefully into place.

Daddy Duty Officially Begins

Shadow adjusted his footing around the eggs, making small, deliberate movements. At one point, a step came close enough to raise tension, but the eggs remained secure. Instinct quickly guided him, and then he lowered himself slowly, feathers spreading wide as he settled over both eggs with protective precision.

As the sun rose higher, golden light poured into the nest. Gradually, the white eggs disappeared beneath his body, replaced by the steady silhouette of a father beginning his shift.

This is how bald eagles do it. In fact, they share incubation duties, rotating shifts to maintain warmth and protect developing embryos. Now that two eggs are confirmed in the bowl, the roughly 35-day countdown toward hatching officially continues.

Receive updates like this one in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. 🦅

Why This Moment Matters for the Second Clutch

There was no dramatic fanfare. No predator circling. No storm pressing in. Instead, there was just a sunrise, a handoff, and a discovery that changes the tone of the season.

Meanwhile, Jackie’s confident morning vocals, her peaceful departure, and Shadow’s immediate incubation signal something important. This pair appears synchronized. Focused. Steady.

Now, the second clutch has moved from anticipation to action. Shadow is no longer guarding one egg. Instead, he is warming two.

Nothing in the wild is guaranteed. But this morning marked a meaningful step forward.

A Nest Moving Forward

Not long ago, this nest sat under snow and uncertainty. Today, however, it holds two eggs and a pair working in seamless rotation. Jackie calls at dawn, and Shadow answers. Then one flies. Next, one lands. Life continues.

In Big Bear, the season has quietly shifted again, marking another turning point for the nest.

Check out Lady Hawk’s YouTube channel and give her a subscribe (see video) if you have YouTube. The Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) make this live cam experience possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many eggs are in Jackie and Shadow’s second clutch?

At this time, there are two eggs confirmed in the Big Bear nest bowl.

Did Shadow discover both eggs for the first time on February 28?

Yes. When Shadow arrived to relieve Jackie at sunrise, he discovered both eggs together in the nest bowl for the first time.

Do male bald eagles incubate eggs?

Yes. Bald eagle parents share incubation duties, so Shadow regularly takes turns warming and protecting the eggs throughout the day.

How long will the eggs incubate?

Bald eagle eggs typically incubate for about 35 days before hatching.