This is pretty eggciting news.<\/p>\n
California\u2019s most famous feathered couple welcomed their first egg of the new year \u2014 beginning an arduous journey to ensure it becomes a hatchling.<\/p>\n
Bald eagle beaus Jackie and Shadow\u2019s<\/a> little bundle of joy made its thrilling appearance on the Friends of Big Bear Valley\u2019s livestream just before 5 a.m. Friday.<\/p>\n Mama Jackie was in labor for just 10 minutes before laying the egg in the San Bernardino Mountains love nest she has shared with Shadow for years.<\/p>\n California\u2019s most famous feathered couple welcomed their first egg of the new year \u2014 beginning an arduous journey to ensure said egg becomes a hatchling. Friends of Big Bear Valley<\/p>\n \u201cAs he stood in front of her beak-to-beak with a twinkle in his eye, he carefully looked at the egg, then looked again, just to make sure it was really there!\u201d the Friends of Big Bear Valley reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAs he turned to fly off to roost on his own for the night, Shadow softly brushed the top of Jackie\u2019s white head feathers with his beak. So sweet!\u201d<\/p>\n Jackie is already territorial over her impending offspring and is displaying \u201cwingslaps\u201d \u2014 a defensive behavior that keeps all intruders from coming too close to the nest.<\/p>\n She and her baby daddy have also implemented shifts for sitting on their new egg. <\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that more eggs could soon fill the nest. Bald eagles<\/a> tend to lay multiple eggs for higher chances of survival, and Jackie has historically laid hers every three days.<\/p>\n Mama Jackie was in labor for just 10 minutes before laying the egg in the San Bernardino Mountains love nest she\u2019s shared with Shadow for several years. Friends of Big Bear Valley<\/p>\n It will be another 35 days before the new baby can see daylight.<\/p>\n The great news is marred, however, by the harsh reality that the eaglet-to-be has just a 50% chance of breaking out of its shell. It\u2019s a tragedy Jackie and Shadow know all too well.<\/p>\n A severe winter storm killed the chances of the eggs hatching in 2024, just one year after ravens gobbled up their yet-to-be-hatched young\u2019uns.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe California Post is here. Sign up for Morning Report.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the perfect blend of news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Just last year, the parents lost one of their hatchlings due to heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n But the lovebirds have had plenty of success as well. Despite the loss of their sibling, offspring Sunny and Gizmo spread their wings<\/a> from their parents\u2019 nest last summer and began lives of their own as millions of birdwatchers who were following along on the livestream celebrated.<\/p>\n For now, Jackie and Shadow are cozying up together and preparing their home for the little ones. Friends of Big Bear Valley<\/p>\n For now, Jackie and Shadow are cozying up together and preparing their home for the little ones.<\/p>\n \u201cShadow brought a fish this morning which Jackie happily claimed and ate after getting her talons loose from the front porch sticks. Soon after, Jackie delivered some fluff and while both used their beaks to spread it, Shadow also used his feet to stomp on it to make sure it would stay put,\u201d the Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cAll is well\u2026 stay tuned for more egg-citement to come!\u201d<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
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