Inside the Jeffrey pine, the Axis camera system, and the federal closure area
The nest tree is a massive Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi), estimated at over 160 feet tall — one of the tallest in the immediate area. The nest sits near the very top, roughly 145 feet above the forest floor.
The current nest measures approximately 5 feet by 4 feet and is about 3–4 feet deep. FOBBV estimates it's roughly 20 years old. Like all eagle nests, Jackie and Shadow add fresh material each season — sticks, pine needles, and soft grasses to line the bowl.
This is actually the second nest site for Big Bear's eagles. The original pair (Ricky & Lucy) first nested in a dead tree; after their first chick (Jackie!) fledged, that nest blew down, and the pair shifted to this stronger Jeffrey pine about 50 feet away.
Interestingly, Ricky & Lucy also built an alternate nest about a quarter-mile away — a more sheltered location where they raised chicks Moonlight and Sky during the 2015–2016 season while the camera nest sat empty.
The first nest camera was installed in October 2015 after years of planning and fundraising by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), under permits issued by the U.S. Forest Service.
Because the nest is 145 feet up in a living tree, all camera installation and maintenance requires a specialized biological tree climber — standard lifts can't reach the height, and standard climbing equipment could damage the tree or disturb the nest.
No one is permitted in the nest area outside of authorized maintenance windows due to the Forest Service closure. This isolation is precisely what makes the camera so important — it's the only way to observe the eagles without disturbing them.
FOBBV operates the livestreams on YouTube, available 24/7:
The channels have attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers, with major viewership peaks during dramatic weather events and the 2023 prolonged incubation season. FOBBV's Eagle Nest page even features a quote from musician Steve Miller about watching Sunny's first flight.
The nest area is under an active Forest Service closure during nesting season. Violators face federal penalties under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
The nesting site is protected by a U.S. Forest Service seasonal closure under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA). The current order is:
Why the closure matters: Human disturbance during nesting can cause eagles to abandon their nest, eggs, or chicks. Even brief visits near the nest tree can trigger defensive behavior that leads to egg cooling or chick exposure. The closure creates a buffer zone that allows the eagles to nest, incubate, and raise chicks without stress.
Even though bald eagles were removed from the Endangered Species List in August 2007, they remain protected under two federal laws:
BGEPA penalties (first offense):