Three months after leaving their nest following the successful fledging of their two chicks, Sunny and Gizmo, Big Bear Lake’s famed bald eagle parents Jackie and Shadow were spotted making a visit to the treetop dwelling this week.

The prominent predators came swooping into the nest on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 26, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit organization that operates a 24-hour live camera feed of the nest.

“They’re back!” FOBBV Executive Director Sandy Steers gleefully announced in a social media post. “Jackie and Shadow touched down—Jackie first, followed right behind by Shadow—for a beautiful joint arrival at the nest!”

The couple hasn’t been seen together in the nest since vacating their seasonal home in June after eaglet sisters Sunny and Gizmo spread their wings to strike out on their own.

What Is New With Jackie and Shadow: Fresh Feathers

Jacke and Shadow had some fresh plumage to show off, FOBBV said.

“They have both obviously finished their summer molting, and their feather coats look absolutely stunning,” according to Steers.

A black sap stain that had adorned Jackie’s head all year and helped eagle-eyed viewers easily tell the parents apart, was gone.

What’s Next for Jackie and Shadow

With the onset of fall, Jackie and Shadow were already seemingly preparing for the next generation to come.

The couple welcomes new eggs in January, with hatching expected in March.

“The weather is a bit cooler, the angle of the sun in the sky based on our latitude is apparently telling them to start preparing,” Steers explained.

The pair inspected the nest and adjusted some sticks before settling in for the afternoon on a portion of the nest volunteers have dubbed the “front porch.”

“Jackie and Shadow sat on the front porch together for another couple hours, just watching around and observing whatever was happening in their neighborhood,” Steers said. “They even stayed out front for some close-ups of their gorgeous new coats.”

As night fell, Jackie and Shadow once again left the nest to sleep in the favorite roosting tree nearby, according to FOBBV.

“We are all very happy to see them spend the afternoon in the nest!” Steers added.

How Long Have Jackie and Shadow Mated?

Jackie and Shadow have been a mating pair since 2018, when Shadow replaced Jackie’s previous mate, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Jackie was believed to be the first recorded bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear in 2012. She was initially known as Jack until it became apparent she was female, and her name was switched to Jackie.

Shadow hatched in Big Bear in 2015.

Traditionally, eaglets born in Big Bear are named by local third-grade students.

Bald eagle officially named national bird of U.S.

Despite long being recognized as a symbol of the United States and even adorning the country’s Great Seal, the bald eagle was only formally recognized as the national bird this week.

The official designation came through a bill signed into law by former President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve 2024.

Bald Eagle Population on the Rise, Scientists Say

The bald eagle population, as a whole, has flourished in recent years.

According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — or FWS — report, scientists estimate 316,700 bald eagles are living in the lower 48 states, a total that has quadrupled since 2009.

The FWS credited decades of protection and conservation with the prohibition of DDT. The once widely used pesticide was banned in the U.S. in 1972 after its adverse environmental and health effects were discovered, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

For bald eagles, the chemical caused eggs to have “shells so thin that they often broke during incubation or otherwise failed to hatch,” the FWS said. “By 1963, with only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles known to exist, the species was in danger of extinction.”

In 1978, the eagles were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Bald and golden eagles are also protected under a separate federal statute prohibiting killing, possessing or selling the birds.

By 2007, the FWS said bald eagles had “recovered to the point that they no longer needed the protection of the Endangered Species Act,” and the species was removed that year.

Eaglets still face several obstacles to survival, including disease, lack of food, bad weather, and human interference. The FWS said studies show that about 30% don’t live past their first year.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Eagles Jackie and Shadow return to Big Bear nest with fresh feathers
Reporting by Brian Day, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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