Two Bald Eagle Chicks Hatch from Eggs of Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear Lake

Fans of the bald eagles Jackie and Shadow watched a livestream as two chicks hatched from their eggs over the Easter weekend. The nest is located in Big Bear Lake, outside Los Angeles, California. The first chick hatched around 9:30 p.m. PST on Saturday, and the second hatched around 8:30 a.m. PST on Sunday, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley nonprofit.

The nonprofit operates two 24-hour cameras that provide continuous coverage of the nest. Chirps from the eggs were heard on Thursday before the hatching process began. Eaglets are considered fully hatched once they are free of the eggshell, a process that can take 24 to 48 hours after the initial break.

“The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!”

At the time of the first hatching, the second egg showed a pip, a hole pecked by the chick. Shadow arrived after the second hatch and observed the eaglets, according to a Facebook post from the nonprofit. The post stated that both chicks are doing well and that their development has begun. Footage from the livestream showed one parent covering the chicks for warmth after 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The Friends of Big Bear Valley installed the nest camera in 2015 to monitor the eagles. Jackie and Shadow have raised eaglets in previous years: Simba and Cookie in 2019, Spirit in 2022, and Sunny and Gizmo in 2025. The nonprofit conducts an annual fundraising contest for naming the chicks, with final decisions made by local third-grade students.

The bald eagle was removed from the federal threatened and endangered species list in 2007 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the California Endangered Species Act, it is classified as a fully protected bird. Nationwide, bald eagles are safeguarded by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibit killing, selling, or harming eagles, their nests, or eggs.

The livestream is available on the Friends of Big Bear Valley website. The hatching event occurs amid ongoing conservation efforts for the species in California. The nonprofit congratulated Jackie and Shadow on the first hatch of the season on its website. Viewers can continue to monitor the eaglets' progress through the cameras, which provide real-time updates on the family's activities.