Another major milestone has arrived for Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, as their first chick of the season has begun emerging from its egg.
According to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the eaglet has already poked its head out of the shell, marking a significant step in the hatching process. The chick is not considered fully hatched until it is completely free of the shell, the group noted in a Saturday update.
The nonprofit also reported encouraging news for the second egg, which appears to have reached the “pip” stage — when a chick begins breaking through the eggshell from the inside.
Earlier in the hatching process, observers heard faint chirping coming from inside one of the eggs, a sign the eaglet had broken through the internal membrane and taken its first breaths of air.
Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest as their first eaglet of the 2026 season begins hatching in Big Bear. April 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest as their first eaglet of the 2026 season begins hatching in Big Bear. April 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Friends of Big Bear Valley described Friday’s activity at the nest as particularly eventful, with Shadow delivering nesting material and fish to Jackie as the pair carefully tended to the eggs. At one point, Shadow was seen chasing off a red-tailed hawk that attempted to move into the area.
Throughout the day, the pair worked together to keep the eggs protected and warm while the chick continued working its way out of the shell, a process that can take many hours or even days.
Friends of Big Bear Valley says hatching is still underway and viewers can expect continued progress as the eaglet works to fully break free of the shell and the second egg continues to develop.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.