How a pair of California bald eagles captured the hearts of a global audience

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For years, a live-streamed nest in Big Bear Valley offered an intimate look at the lives of Jackie and Shadow. Their journey, marked by harsh winters and successful fledglings, eventually sparked a massive conservation effort to protect their habitat, turning a local wildlife story into a global phenomenon.

Jackie and Shadow were a mated pair of bald eagles living in the San Bernardino National Forest, specifically in a Jeffrey pine near Fawnskin. Jackie, thought to be the first eagle born in Big Bear Valley, became a public figure in 2017. Shadow joined her in 2018 after competing with her previous mate, Mr. B. Their lives were documented by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, which launched a camera to monitor the area in 2015. By 2020, they were the only bald eagles known to reside at Big Bear Lake throughout the entire year.

The pair faced numerous challenges, including extreme weather. During the 2023 season, they incubated eggs under 45 inches of snow, though no chicks survived that year. In 2025, they successfully raised two females, Sunny and Gizmo, while a third chick, Misty, died during a storm. In 2026, they raised two more chicks, Luna and Sandy, named after the organization's late founder. Public engagement was immense; for instance, students at Big Bear Elementary School voted on names for the chicks, choosing from over 63,000 submissions in 2026.

Jackie's life ended in 2026 after she was found injured near Dana Point Park. Despite treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center for anemia and kidney inflammation, she died on August 10. Her legacy, however, extended beyond her nest. The public interest in the eagles helped secure $10.5 million to purchase the 63-acre Moon Camp property, preventing development near the nest. This success included a $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman. Following her death, a tribute was held at Fawn Park, and the California State Senate declared September 4, 2026, as California Wildlife Day in her honor.

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