Big Bear Lake’s beloved bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, have a reason to celebrate, Jackie laid a new egg on Tuesday, marking a hopeful fresh start after a heartbreaking loss earlier this season.
According to FOX LA, Jackie laid the egg at approximately 2:30 p.m., and the nonprofit group Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) confirmed the news by sharing video footage of Jackie tending to the new arrival.
This is the third egg of Jackie and Shadow’s season, and the first of what FOBBV is calling a “second clutch.” It comes roughly a month after ravens destroyed the couple’s first two eggs in late January, while the eagles were temporarily away from their nest.
“Jackie and Shadow were away for a few hours today when the ravens came, maybe they knew on some level and this is nature’s way of resetting things,” FOBBV wrote on Facebook following the raven attack, as reported by KTLA.
Before laying the new egg, Jackie displayed recognizable behaviors that tipped off eagle-watchers. The group noted she spent longer stretches “pancaked” flat on the nest and drooped her wings in a way that exposed more of her white tail feathers — telltale signs that a new egg was on the way.
“This afternoon, Jackie laid the first egg of the second clutch,” FOBBV announced in a Facebook update.
The new egg may not be the last. Because Jackie typically lays two to three eggs per clutch, FOBBV said it will be watching closely for signs of a second egg beginning this Friday (February 27). Fans can watch the nest in real time through FOBBV’s live YouTube stream.
Last spring, Jackie and Shadow successfully raised two eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo. A third chick, Misty, died during a winter storm.
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