September 27, 2026, brought a Big Bear moment eagle watchers had never seen before: Shadow’s first mating attempt with Kaydee. After weeks of nest visits, shared roosts, morning chortles, sticks and increasingly close encounters, Shadow suddenly took their relationship in a very different direction.
Kaydee, however, did not appear ready for that particular development. And before the evening was over, Shadow would find himself on the receiving end of a surprise side kick too.
It was awkward. It was funny. But underneath all of that was something much more interesting: Shadow and Kaydee continued choosing to stay close.
Watch Live <—— Big Bear nest and community discussion.
Kaydee Comes Flying Into The Cactus Snag
The evening started with Kaydee arriving at the Cactus Snag with so much momentum that Shadow had little choice but to get out of the way before she practically landed on top of him.
Shadow flew off while Kaydee claimed the snag and showed off some impressive balancing skills near its narrow top. Eventually, Shadow moved over to the Lookout Snag. Kaydee followed.
By now, that part of the story has become almost familiar. One eagle moves, and sooner or later the other often appears nearby. Shadow and Kaydee have repeatedly been seen perching close together, chortling and spending more time side by side as their relationship continues to develop. This time, however, their evening together was about to produce a brand-new moment.
Receive updates like this one in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. 🦅
Shadow Makes His First Mating Attempt With Kaydee
While the two perched together on the Lookout Snag, Shadow suddenly moved toward Kaydee and attempted to mount her. Kaydee did not accept the attempt. Shadow quickly flew away, bringing the brief encounter to an end almost as soon as it began.
For anyone watching their interactions over the past several weeks, it was still a significant change. Much of the early attention had been focused on Kaydee following Shadow, moving closer to him, visiting his nest and enthusiastically greeting him.
Now Shadow was the one making a much bolder move. But perhaps the most interesting part came immediately afterward. Shadow returned. And Kaydee dropped down beside him.
There was no prolonged separation after the awkward encounter. Whatever had just happened, the two were soon sharing the tree again.
Then Kaydee Accidentally Gives Shadow the Boot
Kaydee’s attention soon turned to one of her favorite subjects lately: sticks. She grabbed at a branch and began working to break it free, apparently determined to add another piece of lumber to her growing Big Bear renovation résumé.
The branch did not cooperate. As Kaydee wrestled with it, one of her feet appeared to become tangled or awkwardly positioned. During the commotion, her leg swung toward Shadow and caught him with what looked like a side kick.
Off Shadow went. For a few seconds, the whole scene looked almost comically timed. Shadow had already been turned down once, and now he had apparently been kicked off the branch.
Kaydee seemed to be struggling with the branch and her footing rather than deliberately pushing Shadow away. So Shadow probably should not take that one personally.
Kaydee Still Had Work to Do at the Nest
With her stick mission behind her, Kaydee headed to the Big Bear nest for one of her now-familiar evening checks. She did not stay long. Soon, she left the nest and headed toward the Roost Tree, where Shadow was waiting.
Then came the chortles. After an evening that included a near-collision, Shadow’s mating attempt, one very stubborn branch and an accidental kick, the two eagles still ended the day together in their usual roosting area. That quiet ending may have said more than all the commotion that came before it.
What Does Shadow’s Mating Attempt Mean?
Shadow’s first mating attempt with Kaydee is another interesting development, but it does not mean eggs are suddenly around the corner.
Bald eagle pairs can engage in bonding behaviors throughout the year. At Big Bear, nest selection and more serious nest building have historically increased around October and November, while egg laying typically begins in January. Bald eagles may also mate outside the immediate fertile period.
That makes a September mating attempt early compared with the rhythm viewers became accustomed to with Jackie and Shadow, but not necessarily abnormal eagle behavior.
Kaydee is also young. She hatched in March 2022 in Southern California, making her about 4½ years old. What the cameras cannot tell us is whether Kaydee has ever experienced a mating attempt before or exactly why she reacted as she did. The safest answer is also the simplest: we are watching these two figure each other out in real time.
Big Bear’s Story Keeps Changing
For people still missing Jackie, moments like this can carry two emotions on the same branch. Jackie shared years of courtship, nest building, eggs and eaglets with Shadow. Nothing Kaydee does rewrites that history.
But Shadow is still here. And Kaydee keeps coming back.
She visits the nest. She works on sticks and she roosts near him. They chortle together. And now, for the first time caught in this developing relationship, Shadow has attempted to mate with her.
Bald eagle pairs may remain together until one dies and a surviving eagle may subsequently find another mate. What Shadow and Kaydee ultimately become, however, is still theirs to decide.
For now, there is no egg countdown and no need to rush the story. Just two eagles, one very eventful evening, and a final chorus of chortles from the Roost Tree. And after everything that happened on September 27, that might be the sweetest part of all.
The Friends Of Big Bear Valley make this live cam experience possible. The video was uploaded and shared by Lady Hawk on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Shadow try to mate with Kaydee?
Yes. On September 27, 2026, Shadow attempted to mount Kaydee while the two were perched together on the Lookout Snag. It was the first mating attempt between Shadow and Kaydee captured during their developing relationship.
Did Kaydee accept Shadow’s mating attempt?
No. Kaydee did not accept the attempt, and Shadow flew off shortly afterward. He soon returned, and Kaydee later moved down beside him, showing that the brief encounter did not end their time together.
Why did Kaydee kick Shadow off the branch?
Later in the evening, Kaydee was working at a branch when she delivered a side kick that sent Shadow flying from the perch. Despite the dramatic moment, the two continued their evening normally and later roosted near each other.
Does Shadow’s mating attempt mean Shadow and Kaydee are officially a pair?
The mating attempt is another sign that their relationship is developing, but one interaction alone cannot confirm exactly where their pair bond stands. Shadow and Kaydee have also been spending time together, visiting the nest, working with sticks, roosting nearby and chortling together.
Is September early for bald eagle mating behavior at Big Bear?
It is earlier than the period when viewers were accustomed to seeing more regular mating activity from Shadow and Jackie. Bald eagle courtship, pair bonding and nest-related behavior can begin well before egg laying, so a mating attempt does not mean eggs are imminent.
Could Kaydee lay eggs this season?
It is too early to know. Kaydee is still young, and one mating attempt does not tell us whether she will eventually lay eggs. Her behavior, continued nest activity and interactions with Shadow over the coming months may provide more clues.
What happened after Shadow’s mating attempt?
Kaydee later visited the Big Bear nest for another check of the sticks before heading to the Roost Tree, where Shadow was also spending the night. The evening ended with the two chortling as they settled in.
