Beloved Big Bear eagle couple welcomes first egg of the year – NBC Los Angeles

Almost exactly one year after laying her first egg of 2025, Jackie the bald eagle in Big Bear welcomed the first egg of 2026 on Friday.

Live video from Friends of Big Bear Valley showed at around 4:22 p.m., Jackie, the female eagle, showed the signs of being in labor.

About five minutes later, she stood up and laid her first egg at 4:32 p.m..

“She did a great job and is not resting,” Friends of Big Bear Valley said in a social media post.

Shadow, Jackie’s partner, stopped by a few minutes later and saw the egg, according to the group.

Earlier this week, Jackie was seen “pancaking” by lying flat in the nest bowl and getting it ready for incubation.

Bald eagles mate year-round, but Jackie is fertile from January to April, according to FOBBV. January is typically when she begins to lay her eggs.

Last year, Jackie and Shadow welcomed their first egg of 2025 on Jan. 22. The second and third eggs came a few days later on Jan. 25 and Jan. 28.

While three eaglets hatched in March, only two, Sunny and Gizmo, survived and later fledged.