Shadow launched into a dramatic midair defense at the Big Bear eagle nest on March 16, 2026, flipping talons up when a smaller intruder rushed in from behind and targeted him in flight.
Morning light filled Big Bear Valley as Jackie returned to the nest with fresh grass and greeted Shadow with a tender beaky kiss. The quiet exchange set the tone for a special day at the Big Bear eagle nest—but before evening arrived, Shadow had one more heartwarming surprise waiting.
On 2-18-2026, a hungry young eagle circled too close to Jackie and Shadow’s snowy nest high above Big Bear Lake. As Shadow guarded a freshly delivered coot in the winter cold, tension rose in the snow-covered branches.
For a brief moment, it looked possible. On February 14, 2026, a juvenile eagle circled back over the Big Bear nest tree, and Jackie saw it immediately. Just seconds earlier, she had finished eating a fish. Then she looked up — and everything about her posture changed.