It’s happening! Big Bear eagles Jackie and Shadow see first pip of 2026 hatching season
A long-awaited moment has arrived for fans of Big Bear’s famous bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow.
A chick has officially begun hatching after a visible “pip,” the first crack in the eggshell, was spotted Friday, April 3, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The nonprofit, which operates the widely viewed Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, said chirping sounds were heard from inside the egg beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through the night, signaling the eaglet had broken through the internal membrane and taken its first breath of air.
By Friday, observers identified what appeared to be a pip, indicating the hatching process is underway.
A small crack, known as a pip, appears on one of Jackie and Shadow’s eggs (on the right) as the Big Bear eaglet begins the hatching process. April 2026. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
“This indicates that the chick was able to break the internal membrane and took its first breath of air,” the organization shared in a social media update. “Today we spotted an apparent pip (breach in the eggshell) and hatching is in the works.”
Wildlife experts note that once a pip appears, it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the chick to fully emerge from the egg.
Jackie and Shadow’s nesting season has drawn global attention through the live camera feed, with viewers closely following each stage from egg-laying to hatching and eventual fledging.
Last year, the pair successfully raised eaglets Sunny and Gizmo, while a third chick named Misty died during a winter storm.
Supporters are now watching closely as the first eaglet of the season begins to emerge, marking another milestone for one of Southern California’s most beloved wildlife stories.