Big Bear Eagle Cam: 2026

Last year we reviewed the Big Bear Eagle Cam, featuring the now-famous bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow. It turned to be a fabulous season, with three eggs laid. They all hatched, and two of the three chicks survived to fledge. We can’t know what will happen this year, as Nature is what it is, but Jackie laid her first egg on January 23, 2026, so the 2026 official season has started.

Note this is not the official website for the Big Bear Eagle Cam, but a review of what some of us at Doux Reviews are watching.

The cam is always on, and with the first egg laid, one eagle or the other will almost always be present (perhaps a little less if the weather is warm). Before the first egg was laid, Jackie and Shadow were stopping by, getting the nest ready for the new season. This is done by bringing fresh sticks and fluff. The larger sticks go around the edges, building a barrier to make sure the chicks and the eggs don’t fall out: the original form of baby proofing.

The fluff – smalls sticks and brush and other soft material – go into the nest bowl, making a sort of cushion. The fluff in the nest bowl protects the eggs, and later the chicks. During first few weeks of January, the eagles also worked on recreating the nest bowl. There was one in 2025, but as the chicks hatched and started moving about the nest, knocking twigs about, the nest bowl no longer existed. The eagles redid the nest bowl by flattening an area with their bodies and by digging with their beaks.

The nest is located way up in a very tall tree in California. The eagles feel secure and don’t realize we’re snooping. And, at least during nesting season, some volunteer is always watching and can control the camera to zoom in on the eggs/chicks when they are hatching/being fed.

Of course, not all moments are exciting, but there’s a page you can go to that notes exactly when fish were delivered or when feedings took place (link below). You can go back during the last 12 hours of viewing to see the exciting moments. Also, others post clips in YouTube capturing important times. Search for “Jackie and Shadow” or “Big Bear Eagle Cam” and you will find plenty.

Eagles can be hard to tell apart. Jackie is a larger than Shadow, and Shadow has sleeker head feathers. Still, this may only help you if you see them together.

Jackie is more in charge than Shadow. She takes all the night shifts. When the weather is bad, such as rain, snow or sleet, she barely moves as she protects those in the nest. Shadow has to fight for chick and egg time. Sometimes he does this by bringing a large stick and putting it on top of her.

Jackie is also much noisier. As I don’t speak eagle, I don’t what she’s saying, but she seems to call out to Shadow when there’s danger. Or maybe when she wants a shift change. Or maybe she’s praising him when he shows up with a fish (he does that a lot; he’s a good provider; although Jackie fishes well herself).

This review will be updated to reflect events as they happen.

Bits and pieces

Link to Youtube Big Bear Eagle cam 1. This shows the close up.

Link to Youtube Big Bear Eagle cam 2. This is the wide view.

Friends of Big Bear Valley. This link goes to the recap in Google Docs.

At night the camera still runs, using technology that allows us to watch without disturbing the eagles. During the 2025 season, a winter storm knocked out the night camera and the local microphone (and also killed one of the chicks), but the technology has since been repaired.

Overall rating

I’ve always been into birds, but birdwatching can be inconvenient, with treks to far-off places yielding only tantalizing glimpses of feathered creatures. Also, when we watch birds, and they know it, they often change their behavior. But the cams located around the planet allow us to watch the birds (and other species) on their nests in their natural state.

Four out of four eggs!

Victoria Grossack loves math, birds, Greek mythology, Jane Austen and great storytelling in many forms.