On February 16, 2026, as a powerful winter storm pushed toward Big Bear and the wind began to build, Jackie made a move that instantly changed the mood in the nest. She lowered herself slowly into the bowl, pressing flat and still in a posture eagle watchers know well. Pancaking. The timing could not have felt more dramatic.
For a brief moment, it looked possible. On February 14, 2026, a juvenile eagle circled back over the Big Bear nest tree, and Jackie saw it immediately. Just seconds earlier, she had finished eating a fish. Then she looked up — and everything about her posture changed.
On February 12, 2026, what should have been a routine meal at the Big Bear eagle nest turned into one…
On the afternoon of February 9, 2026, high above Big Bear Lake, something shifted. There were no intruders to chase. No ravens testing the edges of the territory. Just tall pines standing guard and a familiar pair moving in sync once again. Then it happened. Jackie pancaked.
A Familiar Perch, a Lingering Presence On February 8th, 2026, the afternoon unfolded quietly at the Big Bear eagle nest,…