The story of Big Bear Lake's most famous couple — two bald eagles who captured the hearts of millions
Jackie is the first bald eagle ever discovered hatched in Big Bear Valley — the U.S. Forest Service confirmed no prior recorded active bald eagle nests existed in the valley before her parents arrived. During the 2011–2012 nesting season, her parents Ricky and Lucy named their chick "Jack" (after a long-time Forest Service eagle-count volunteer). When the chick grew notably larger than both parents, observers realized she was female — as female bald eagles are typically ~25% larger than males. Jack became Jackie.
After Ricky and Lucy left the area around 2016, Jackie — now about 5 years old — claimed the original nest site with the camera. She's a known "rule-breaker": tracked bald eagles typically disperse from their hatch area for several years before maturity, but Jackie apparently stayed in Big Bear her entire life. She's legendary for her fierce dedication — during the 2023–2024 season's severe El Niño storms, she maintained an incredible 62 continuous hours of uninterrupted nest duty. At approximately 14 years old (as of 2026), Jackie is one of Southern California's most-watched wildlife residents, with hundreds of thousands of fans tuning in each season.
As a mother, Jackie has proven devoted but has also endured heartbreak — multiple seasons of eggs that didn't hatch, chicks lost to storms, and the tragic news that two of her fledged chicks (Stormy and Simba) were later found deceased. Through it all, she keeps coming back to the nest, laying eggs, and trying again.
Shadow earned his name during the 2017–2018 season when he appeared as an intruder at the nest while Stormy (Jackie & Mr. B's surviving chick) was still using it. Shadow simply refused to leave. He was initially suspected to be the Shadow chick hatched by Ricky & Lucy in 2014–15, but plumage analysis showed the intruder was one year older than that chick — making him a completely different bird. FOBBV's FAQ estimates Shadow hatched in spring 2014 and turned five in spring 2019. But the name had already stuck.
Shadow arrived while Jackie was still paired with her first mate, Mr. B. Despite Jackie, Mr. B, and Stormy all trying to chase him away, Shadow held his ground with remarkable tenacity. Eventually, Mr. B left after a nonviolent standoff captured on the nest camera. Jackie accepted Shadow as her new mate, and he's been at the nest since.
Shadow has proven to be a highly involved co-parent — FOBBV describes him taking dedicated incubation and guard shifts when Jackie steps away, including during difficult weather and after chick losses. In the 2025 season, when Misty was lost during a storm, Shadow stepped in to cover while Jackie processed the loss. Together, they successfully raised and fledged Sunny and Gizmo — the first time they fledged two chicks in the same season. Now in their 8th nesting season together, Jackie and Shadow are actively raising their 2025–2026 replacement clutch.
Mr. B was Jackie's first mate, arriving at the nest around 2016–2017 when Jackie was about 5 years old. They mated on camera (Jackie's first year!) but she didn't lay eggs that season — possibly still too young to be sexually mature. The following year (2018), Jackie and Mr. B had their first clutch together — Stormy and BBB. But during that same summer, Shadow arrived and refused to leave. After a nonviolent standoff captured on the nest cam, Mr. B eventually left the area. He was last seen on camera in what viewers called a dignified retreat. Since he was never banded, his fate remains unknown.