Big Bear Bald Eagle Lays New Egg, Over 20K To Keep Watch Online

BIG BEAR, CA — Southern California's bonded bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, laid a new egg Tuesday afternoon, after two eggs were destroyed by predators earlier this month.

This is a fresh start for the pair's second clutch of eggs as the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam remains aimed where Jackie is incubating her new egg. There may be another egg on the horizon as early as Friday, they say.

Patch reached out to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the team who monitors the nest and is actively fundraising toward halting a development that threatens their home and hunting grounds.

"Jackie and Shadow's incubation window is around 40 days, so it is a little longer than others," said Jenny Voisard, Media Manager of FOBBV. "Right now we are watching to see if Jackie shows signs of laying another egg. Those would be delayed incubation (standing off or over the eggs for short periods of time) as well as mating."

Overnight, Jackie was seen "rolling" the egg, and Wednesday morning she made adjustments to the fluff surrounding it, then gently settled back down to incubate. Eggs are rolled regularly to prevent the embryo and egg membranes from sticking to the shell and to distribute albumen and heat evenly, according to an FOBBV moderator on Youtube.

"Jackie stood off of the eggs for periods of time last night and they were seen mating on our other camera this morning," she said. "We will see. Only Jackie knows for sure! If she were to lay another egg, it might come on Friday."

It has been an intense month for the FOBBV with the laying of eggs, losing the eggs, and then losing Sandy Steers, the founder of the team who died earlier this month on Feb. 11. Before her death, Steers established a path for the nonprofit to purchase the land from a developer, that would ensure the safety of the bald eagles, their current and future offspring, as well as other endangered animals in that part of the forest.

A total of $10 million is needed to complete that effort, and thus far the group has raised just over $400,000, roughly 4.2 percent of their goal.

"There's a long way to go," Voisard said.

"We are working to move forward in her honor, just like the eagles do after loss," Voisard said. "We can't help but think that she is up there protecting the nest and the eagles she loved so deeply."

The fundraiser, accessible on savemooncamp.org, was a top priority Steers, who also served on SBMLT's board. "We need everyone to become Jackie and Shadow's hero," Steers said in a statement before her death.

Another statement left from Steers reminds of the heart behind saving this corner of the world:

“This quiet, dark-skies community has amazing biodiversity that makes it unique in the world. These species, including Jackie and Shadow, deserve to have their habitat preserved for the long-term benefit of everyone."

With six months to raise $10 million, the group asks their 2.4 million social media supporters to donate to the savemooncamp.org campaign. They remain hopeful for the sake of the bald eagles and those who love them.

Related:

3 Bald Eagle Babies Hatch To Big Bear's Jackie And Shadow: Photos

Beloved Big Bear Bald Eagles Supporter Sandy Steers Dies

Save Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest From Large Development, $10M Fundraiser Underway

Big Bear Bald Eagles Leave The Nest: Sunny And Gizmo Fly Away, What Comes Next?