Eagle fans across Southern California, mark your calendars — “Pip Watch” 2026 begins Tuesday at the famous Big Bear Valley bald eagle nest, and the excitement is building fast.
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the nonprofit that operates the beloved 24/7 bald eagle nest cam, coined the term “Pip Watch” to describe the early hatching period — the window when wildlife experts begin watching for the first small cracks in the eggs that signal a chick is working its way out. Right now, beloved bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow are caring for two eggs in their nest, perched 145 feet high in a Jeffrey pine tree in the San Bernardino National Forest.
“This is when we look for the first small crack in the eggs that begins the hatching process,” FOBBV wrote on Instagram.
Once a pip — that first tiny hole in the shell — appears, it can still take two to three more days for a chick to fully emerge. FOBBV notes that the ideal temperature for the embryos to develop is 99 degrees, and Jackie and Shadow have been working tirelessly to maintain just that.
This nesting season has been anything but quiet. Jackie and Shadow’s first clutch of eggs this year was lost on January 30 when a pair of ravens invaded the nest while the eagle couple was away, breaching both eggs. The loss was devastating to fans worldwide who follow the nest cam closely.
But Jackie and Shadow bounced back. Jackie laid the first egg of their second clutch on February 24, followed by a second egg on February 27. Fans celebrated the news after the heartbreak of the earlier loss.
March brought more tense moments. On March 6, Jackie abruptly left the nest for more than 20 hours — an unusual move during nesting season. Shadow stepped in to guard and incubate the eggs while anxious viewers monitored the livestream. Jackie returned safely the following day. FOBBV suggested she was likely “handling a possible intruder or territorial issue causing her to spend the night away from the nest.”
Ravens circled the nest again on March 13, but Jackie and Shadow successfully defended their eggs. “Jackie and Shadow are used to these highly opportunistic predators and scavengers that see their eggs as a nutritious source of food,” FOBBV wrote on Instagram that day.
Through it all, the pair has shown remarkable dedication. As reported by KTLA, Shadow has been regularly bringing Jackie fresh fish to eat, and the two have been seen adding soft fluff to the nest to keep the eggs insulated. “The quiet mornings, clear skies, and warm weather has allowed them perfect synchrony on the nest,” FOBBV wrote on Instagram. “Jackie and Shadow’s shared commitment has truly been joyful to watch.”
Last year, the eagle pair successfully raised two eaglets — Sunny and Gizmo — who fledged in June, while a third chick, Misty, died during a winter storm.
This season carries extra emotional weight for the FOBBV community. Sandy Steers, the nonprofit’s executive director and the driving force behind the nest cam’s launch, died last month. Her loss has been deeply felt by staff and eagle fans alike.
In her memory, FOBBV has launched a $10 million fundraising campaign to prevent a housing and marina development — known as Moon Camp — from being built less than one mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest. The nonprofit is working with the San Bernardino Mountain Land Trust to raise the full amount by July 31, 2026.
As of Friday, the Save Moon Camp website showed the campaign had raised $1,535,438. “Let’s do it for Sandy,” the site reads.
FOBBV has been clear that, as always, nature offers no guarantees. But starting Tuesday, fans around the world will be watching closely — and hoping — for that first tiny crack.
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