Concern grows over Big Bear bald eagle eggs that have not yet hatched
Editors note: An update to this post can be found here.
More than a week after “Pip Watch” began, concern is growing over three bald eagle eggs that have not yet hatched in Big Bear.
The famous bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow have been guarding the eggs since they were laid in late January.
“At this time in the hatching process, it can be very emotional. I know everyone is on the edge of their seats wanting answers,” an Instagram post from jackie.shadow_bbl.
“[Friends of Big Bear Valley] still has not confirmed a PIP. All I can do is remind everyone that we are just observers of nature and nature can be beautiful and brutal and the outcome, whatever it may be, is out of our control,” the post went on to say.
One of two bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, whose nest is in Big Bear Valley is captured on a live cam. (Friends of Big Bear Valley) Jackie and Shadow, a local pair of bald eagles laid their first egg of 2024. (Friends of Big Bear Valley) Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow seen in their nest in Big Bear Valley. (FOBBV) Jackie and Shadow’s nest is seen in an image taken from a live feed on March 7, 2024. (Friends of Big Bear Valley)
The beginning of Pip Watch was announced by Jackie.shadow_bbl on Feb. 29.
Pip refers to the holes a chick pokes in the egg when it’s getting ready to emerge.
“When a hole is poked through an egg’s membrane it is called the internal pip, and when a hole is pecked through the egg shell it is called the external pip,” journeynorth.org posted on its website.
Since Pip Watch began, tens of thousands of fans have been watching a livestream shared by Friends of Big Bear Valley.
The live stream remained active Thursday morning but comments had been turned off.
The couple’s nest is located in Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine tree.
Watchers can tell the bald eagles apart because Jackie is larger and her beak is both longer and thicker than Shadow’s.
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