On the afternoon of March 1, 2026, The Big Bear eagles incubation routine took a charmingly stubborn turn. The eggs were safe, the forest was quiet, and Shadow was settled low in the nest bowl like he had personally signed a long-term lease. Then Jackie returned, and what should have been a quick shift change turned into a gentle, funny little standstill.
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.
Shadow delivered fish and soft nesting fluff to Jackie as she guarded her egg on February 26. Now February 27 falls within the typical three-day window for a second egg — and nest watchers are on alert. Could Jackie lay again today?
On February 24, 2026, after losing two eggs in the first clutch, Jackie laid the first egg of a new clutch at the Big Bear nest. When Shadow returned and saw the new egg for the first time, his quiet pause and careful lean turned it into a pure proud-dad moment.
The question of a Big Bear eagles second clutch suddenly feels very real. With the snow finally melted from Jackie…