15 seasons of Big Bear bald eagles — every egg, every chick, every storm, every triumph
The very first bald eagle nesting observed in Big Bear Valley — an event biologists described as historic. Ricky and Lucy — names given by the community — established a nest and produced one chick.
The chick was initially named "Jack" after a long-time Forest Service volunteer. But when the chick grew larger than both parents, observers realized she was female. Jack became Jackie — and she would go on to become the star of the Big Bear nest cam.
Ricky and Lucy nested again, but their eggs likely froze. The nest was built in a shallow bowl that didn't insulate the eggs well enough against Big Bear's harsh winter temperatures at ~7,000 feet. Ravens were observed near the nest after extended incubation periods, and the outcome was uncertain because the nest bowl was not visible at the time.
Two chicks were observed in the nest before a major ~4-day rain/wind/snow storm hit in February. Neither chick was seen afterward. Without nest-bowl visibility from a camera, details remain limited — but the storm's severity at Big Bear's ~7,000-foot elevation was clearly devastating for the young chicks.
One chick hatched and FOBBV believes it successfully fledged. This chick was named Shadow by Big Bear 3rd graders and the Forest Service (not to be confused with Jackie's current mate Shadow, who plumage analysis later showed is approximately one year older — a completely different bird). No banding or tracking data was collected for this chick.
A landmark season! Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) installed the first live nest camera in October 2015 under U.S. Forest Service permits, following years of planning and fundraising. But Ricky and Lucy had already built a more sheltered nest about a quarter-mile away (unseen at the time), and the camera nest sat empty.
Despite the move, they raised two chicks — Moonlight and Sky — at the alternate nest, and both fledged successfully. Before the fall 2016 season, Ricky and Lucy "apparently left the area" (per FOBBV), and since neither adult was tagged, their fate and location are unknown.
With Ricky and Lucy gone, their daughter Jackie — now about 5 years old — claimed the original nest tree with the camera. She was joined by a new male dubbed Mr. B.
They mated on camera (a first for the Big Bear cam!), but Jackie laid no eggs. Biologists believe she may have been slightly too young to be fully sexually mature. Eagles typically begin breeding at 4–5 years old, and first-year breeders often have unsuccessful or eggless seasons.
Jackie and Mr. B's first (and only) clutch produced two chicks: Stormy and BBB (Big Bear Baby). Stormy became a media sensation — the first bald eagle chick visible on the live cam — receiving press attention from the U.S. Forest Service.
Tragically, BBB was lost during a severe 24-hour rainstorm followed by freezing temperatures when the chick was about 6.5 weeks old. Stormy survived and was banded #JR1 (purple band), fledging on April 26, 2018.
That summer, an unknown bald eagle arrived at the nest and refused to leave. Initially thought to be the Shadow chick from 2014–15, plumage analysis showed this bird was approximately one year older — a completely different eagle. But the name Shadow stuck. After a nonviolent standoff, Mr. B eventually departed, and Shadow became Jackie's new mate.
Jackie and Shadow's first clutch together produced two chicks: Simba and Cookie.
Cookie (banded #ZJ1, determined male) did not survive a rain/snowstorm at approximately 6 weeks old — a heartbreaking echo of BBB's fate the year before.
Simba (banded #ZR1, determined male) survived and fledged on July 23, 2019. Sadly, Simba was later found deceased elsewhere in California approximately one year after fledging.
Jackie laid two eggs on January 8 and January 11, but none proved viable. The pair incubated for over 60 days — well past the normal 35-day window. By mid-March the eggs were left unattended, and ravens cracked them open revealing no noticeable development. Non-viable eggs can occur for multiple reasons including shell quality, environmental contaminants, or genetics.
A frustrating season for viewers and biologists alike. Jackie laid five eggs across two separate clutches: the first clutch on January 6, 9, and 13, and a second clutch on February 8 and 11. None hatched.
On March 18, the first egg began hatching but the chick died during the process. The remaining eggs showed no full development. The last unviable egg was cracked by a raven on April 17 after 51 days of incubation. This was the second consecutive year without surviving chicks.
After two failed seasons, Jackie and Shadow finally welcomed a chick — Spirit! Jackie laid two eggs on January 22 and January 25. One hatched on March 3 (approximately 40 days incubation); the other egg failed.
Spirit, believed to be female (determined by ankle thickness, overall size, and vocal pitch analysis — not genetic testing), captured hearts with an adorable quirk: she adopted her unhatched sibling egg as a "security blanket," nudging it around the nest and sitting near it for comfort.
Spirit fledged on May 31, 2022, marking a triumphant return after the difficult 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Jackie laid two eggs on January 11 and January 14 (the second laid during a camera downtime). Despite diligent incubation by both parents, ravens breached both eggs on March 7 during an unattended period. The eggs showed no obvious development.
This season also brought devastating news from beyond Big Bear: the bander later reported that Stormy (banded #JR1, fledged 2018) and Simba (banded #ZR1, fledged 2019) had been found deceased at other locations in California approximately one year after fledging. FOBBV did not publish exact causes or locations. The eagle-watching community mourned deeply.
Jackie laid three eggs on January 25, 28, and 31. Despite an extraordinary ~80-day incubation period (normal is 35 days), none hatched. Jackie's heroic 62 continuous hours of uninterrupted nest duty during severe El Niño storms became one of the most widely-shared moments in eagle cam history.
Two eggs were accidentally broken late in the season. FOBBV discussed whether Big Bear's high altitude (~7,000 feet) and snow berms affecting airflow to the nest may have impacted oxygen levels during incubation — a factor unique to high-elevation nesting sites.
A season for the record books! Jackie laid three eggs on January 22, 25, and 28 — and all three hatched: March 3, March 4, and March 8 (incubation spans of ~40, ~38, and ~39 days respectively — consistent with Big Bear's patterns).
The chicks were named Misty, Sunny, and Gizmo. Misty was named after Kathi Misterly, a long-time FOBBV volunteer who had recently passed away from cancer — this naming was a direct FOBBV decision rather than a community vote.
Tragedy struck when a multi-day snowstorm around March 13 proved too much for the first-born chick — Misty was lost. FOBBV noted nest-bowl visibility issues from snow berm and a damaged microphone during the storm. Shadow was observed removing the deceased chick, and Jackie later flew it away from the nest.
Both surviving chicks thrived. Sunny (believed female based on ankle size and vocal pitch analysis) fledged on June 2, 2025 at 90 days old. Gizmo (also believed female by the same analysis) fledged on June 7, 2025 at 91 days old. FOBBV does not report band numbers for either chick.
This was the first time Jackie and Shadow fledged two chicks in the same season — a remarkable milestone documented during FOBBV's 10th annual Outdoor Adventure Days.
The current season started with promise: Jackie laid two eggs on January 23 and January 26. But on January 30, both eggs were breached by ravens while the nest was unattended — a devastating blow.
Showing the resilience that has defined her career, Jackie laid a replacement clutch starting February 24, with a second egg following soon after. As of early March 2026, Jackie and Shadow are actively incubating.
This season is ongoing — watch the live cam to follow along!