Dismay for Big Bear bald eagle family as eaglet dies in winter storm
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Concern turned to grief this weekend as fans of Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle couple Shadow and Jackie learned one of the three eaglets that hatched in the pair’s nest this month did not survive a winter storm.
Throngs of fans flocked to the popular 24-hour live feed of the eagles’ nest to celebrate when the pair welcomed the fuzzy new arrivals, the last of which broke out of its shell in the early morning hours of March 8.
For a week, viewers watched as father Shadow and mother Jackie fed and tended to their seemingly healthy offspring, accurately described on the camera’s Facebook page as “fluff balls of adorability.”
Thousands have monitored the Big Bear bald eagles’ nest via a popular livestream. Jackie and Shadow’s good news follows years of disappointment.
But things took a distressing turn Friday morning. Only two gray chicks could be seen moving in the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake.
A snow berm left by this week’s storm obscured the camera’s view into the nest. Friends of Big Bear Valley, the educational nonprofit that runs the webcam, confirmed Saturday evening that a small bit of visible gray fuzz was the remains of one young chick.
“We are sad to let everyone know that one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks did not make it through the severe winter storm that brought over 2 feet of snow to the area,” the nonprofit wrote in its public log. “The chick’s passing happened some time after all three were observed together getting fed at 6 pm” on Thursday.
“We do not know what happened or why it passed,” the organization posted. “We understand completely how hard this is to hear. Please allow yourself to grieve and feel whatever you feel. Please honor the chick for its courage in getting as far as it did and doing whatever it came to do.”
On Saturday morning, more than 65,000 of the eagles’ fans watched live as one of the parents fed bits of fish to two awake and eager chicks. A small bit of fuzz attached to a motionless object next to them wavered in the wind.
Thousands who have been watching the eagles’ nest on a webcam got to see a hatchling emerge, with glimpses of tiny feathers and a beak appearing Monday night.
Since the live camera was installed in 2015, tens of thousands of fans have followed Jackie and Shadow’s growing brood.
The recent births follow years of disappointment. In 2023, the pair’s eggs were eaten by ravens. Last year, severe cold impeded the hatching of another trio of eggs.
Friends of Big Bear Valley took to Facebook on Friday evening to dispel rumors originating from viewers’ misinterpretation of eagle behavior.
Shadow did not step on one of his chicks, the organization wrote, nor did Jackie accidentally knock a chick from the nest while slapping away a flying squirrel.
“We are observers of nature. Things happen that we cannot control. We do not know the entirety of the current situation at this time. Even when our emotions are running over, drama, worry and assumptions do not change any situation or help anyone,” the organization wrote. “We have the opportunity to observe the miracles of nature in all of its aspects. Please approach it with patience, understanding and heartfelt kindness to those around you.”
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