Fiona made one of her boldest nighttime returns to the Big Bear eagle nest, and Jackie answered with the kind of reflexes that leave no doubt about who is guarding Sandy and Luna.
On the night of May 11, 2026, the San Bernardino flying squirrel appeared several times around Jackie and Shadow’s nest. The visits started with quiet movement in the dark, then quickly turned into a wild sequence of wing slaps, quick escapes, loose sticks, and one very dramatic fall from the nest.
By the end of the night, Fiona had survived Jackie’s warning, escaped a sudden drop, returned again, and still managed to glide away from danger. Ravens and hawks may rule the daylight trouble list, but after dark, Fiona brought her own tiny storm cloud of chaos.
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Jackie Heard Movement Before Fiona Reached the Nest
The first sign of trouble came when Jackie heard something close to the nest. She could not immediately see what was moving nearby, but she knew something was there.
Sandy was awake and looking across the nest as the nighttime visitor moved closer. Then Fiona climbed up the tree trunk and reached the edge of Jackie’s territory.
Jackie reacted in an instant.
With one powerful wing slap, she knocked Fiona away from the nest area. Fiona’s flying squirrel instincts took over immediately, and she launched herself into the darkness, gliding off to safety before Jackie could do more.
The escape was not exactly quiet. After Fiona landed, she vocalized from below, adding a noisy little protest to the end of her sudden exit. It was the perfect Fiona moment: bold entrance, eagle slap, airborne getaway, and a final burst of squirrel commentary from somewhere beneath the nest.
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Fiona Returned and Went Looking for Scraps
A short time later, Fiona came back.
This time, she moved along the left side of the nest, searching around the rail sticks for possible food scraps. Jackie heard her again and became alert, wings ready in case the flying squirrel came too close.
Sandy and Luna also noticed the movement. Both eaglets looked toward Fiona as she maneuvered through the sticks, moving carefully along the edge of the nest in the dark.
Then the nest itself became part of the drama.
Fiona stepped onto a stick that suddenly tipped over. In a flash, Fiona and the stick went overboard. Fiona jumped away safely, but the stick dropped all the way to the ground with a loud thud.
It was a close call, and Fiona’s flying ability mattered again. She had already escaped Jackie once, and now she had escaped a sudden fall from the nest.
Jackie Was Ready When Fiona Came Back Again
Even after the wing slap and the falling-stick scare, Fiona returned for a third visit.
This time, she landed on the nest itself. Jackie wasted no time. She rushed toward the nest and chased Fiona off before the squirrel could settle in or continue foraging.
Fiona darted away again, proving that her nighttime speed is just as important as her gliding skills.
After Fiona left, Jackie picked up a small stick from the nest. The stick briefly got caught in her beak, but she worked it loose. Sandy and Luna were close together nearby, watching as Jackie stood over them after the repeated interruptions.
For the eaglets, it was another nighttime lesson in nest life: not every visitor has wings like a raven or talons like a hawk. Sometimes the trouble comes in the form of a tiny flying squirrel with excellent timing and terrible manners.
Sandy and Luna Settled Again After Fiona’s Visits
Once Fiona was gone, Jackie returned to the front porch area of the nest. She did a crop drop and remained nearby as Sandy and Luna settled back down.
The nest finally quieted after a night packed with movement. Fiona had climbed up the tree, survived Jackie’s wing slap, glided away, returned to forage, slipped over the edge with a falling stick, escaped again, and still made one more bold attempt before Jackie chased her off.
It was a small moment in the long season of the Big Bear eagle nest, but it carried everything that makes this nest so unpredictable: sharp instincts, fast reactions, wild visitors, and the constant work of protecting two growing eaglets.
By the end of it, Jackie still held the nest. Sandy and Luna were safe. Fiona lived to fly another night.
And somewhere below the nest, one very persistent flying squirrel had learned, once again, that Jackie does not sleep through trespassers.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley make this live cam experience possible. This video was captured by Lady Hawk on youtube.
FAQ
Who is Fiona at the Big Bear eagle nest?
Fiona is the name used for the flying squirrel seen around Jackie and Shadow’s Big Bear eagle nest area. She is known for making nighttime visits near the nest.
What happened to Fiona at the Big Bear eagle nest?
Fiona made several nighttime visits to the nest. Jackie wing-slapped her during one visit, and later Fiona stepped onto a stick that tipped over, sending the stick falling from the nest while Fiona jumped away safely.
Did Jackie hit Fiona with her wing?
Yes. Jackie reacted quickly when Fiona climbed near the nest and wing-slapped her away from the area.
Did Fiona fall from the Big Bear eagle nest?
Fiona went overboard when a stick she was standing on tipped, but she jumped away safely. The stick fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Were Sandy and Luna awake during Fiona’s visit?
Yes. Sandy and Luna noticed Fiona’s movement during the nighttime visits and looked toward the activity near the nest.
Why did Jackie chase Fiona?
Jackie chased Fiona because the flying squirrel came too close to the nest where Sandy and Luna were resting. Jackie reacted protectively and kept Fiona away from the eaglets.
