California's favorite lovebirds Jackie and Shadow welcome first egg of the year
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Houston, we have an egg! In major news for followers of Southern California’s most famous feathered power couple, bald eagles Jackie and Shadow have welcomed their first egg of the 2026 season in their Big Bear nest.Jackie began to show signs of labor at 4:22 p.m.Friday and the egg arrived just 10 minutes later, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, which runs the popular online livestream of the couple’s nest.“She did a great job and is now resting,” the nonprofit wrote in a Friday evening update.
“Shadow came in briefly at 16:41:30 and saw the egg! Thank you for being a part of this amazing event!”Jackie and Shadow will now take turns carefully incubating the egg for the next 35 days or so, ensuring it is kept warm and safe.And, with any luck, another egg or two may arrive in the coming days.
California The birds are expected to fledge, or fly for the first time, between 10 and 14 weeks of age.Sunny turned 10 weeks old on Tuesday, and Gizmo hits that mark on Saturday.Although the laying of the egg was met with an online outpouring of joy, there is a long road to go before the couple have a healthy eaglet.
Bald eagle eggs typically have a 50-50 chance of hatching, according to Sandy Steers, biologist and executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley.Then, once hatched, fewer than 50% of eaglets survive their first year due to challenges from severe weather, food shortages, falls from the nest and predators, according to the American Eagle Foundation.Jackie and Shadow’s prior mating seasons have been marked by cycles of celebration and heartbreak.They first mated in 2018 and had their first eaglet Simba the following year.
But their next successful mating season wasn’t until 2022, when their second eaglet Spirit flew the nest.The following year was marked by devastation when the couple’s eggs were eaten by ravens.Fans were dealt another devastating bl...