California’s most famous bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have laid a new egg just weeks after a raven attacked their nest in Big Bear and destroyed their previous clutch.
The new arrival marks the third egg of the year for the beloved duo, whose nesting journey has drawn thousands of viewers to their live nest cam in Big Bear Lake.
Jackie spent most of the day on the nest, staying low and “pancaking” for extended periods, while Shadow kept a watchful eye nearby.
During one of Jackie’s pancake sessions, her droopy eyes suggested she was likely preparing to lay an egg.
Footage later captured Jackie standing briefly to reveal the newly laid egg around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday before settling back down, according to ABC 7.
The good news comes just a month after the pair lost two eggs when a predatory raven attacked the nest while Jackie and Shadow were away.
“We will never know why, but we are sure they had their reasons as they have been incubating the eggs faithfully,” said the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, which operates the live nest cam.
As Jackie displayed her freshly laid egg, her wings drooped, revealing more of the upper portion of her white tail.
“It’s possible Jackie and Shadow sensed something was off with the egg,” experts noted, “or they may have been guarding their territory, as several other bald eagles have been spotted in the valley recently.”
The iconic Big Bear bald eagle pair previously raised two eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo, who hatched last year.
