The countdown is on for one of Southern California’s most closely watched wildlife events.
Fans of Big Bear’s famous bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow are now just about a week away from “pip watch,” the moment when cracks may begin to appear in the eggs as eaglets prepare to hatch, according to the latest update from Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The nonprofit, which operates the popular Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, said the pair has been carefully tending to their clutch, frequently trading incubation duties and adding soft nest material to help insulate the eggs.
In a recent social media update, the group described a calm stretch of activity at the nest, with Shadow standing guard while Jackie incubates, occasionally repositioning the eggs and adjusting the nest fluff to keep them protected.
Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake as the anticipated “pip watch” period approaches. March 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake as the anticipated “pip watch” period approaches. March 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake as the anticipated “pip watch” period approaches. March 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow tend to their nest overlooking Big Bear Lake as the anticipated “pip watch” period approaches. March 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
“As the excitement grows and we approach pip watch in less than a week, we are fortunate to be able to share our glimpse into Jackie and Shadow’s world as they prepare for what is to come,” the organization wrote in the post.
Pipping refers to the early stage of hatching when an eaglet begins breaking through the eggshell from the inside, a process that can take hours or even days before the chick fully emerges.
The pair’s devoted fanbase has followed the nesting season closely after Jackie laid multiple eggs earlier this year, updates that have drawn hundreds of thousands of viewers to the live cam and social media posts.
Last year, Jackie and Shadow successfully raised two eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo, who fledged in June, while a third chick, Misty, died during a winter storm.
Friends of Big Bear Valley says it will continue providing updates as the anticipated hatch window approaches and viewers prepare to watch for the first signs of new life inside the nest.
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