Bald Eagle Egg Begins Hatching in Big Bear

An egg laid by bald eagles Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear, California, has begun the hatching process. Documented by a live webcam operated by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, this event marks the fourth egg for the pair this season.

Hatching Process Underway

Signs of life from the egg were first observed this week. These included small chirps and the appearance of a slight crack in the shell, known as a 'pip'.

The Friends of Big Bear Valley announced an "internal pip" on Friday, indicating that the chick had broken the internal membrane and taken its first breath.

The full hatching process, from the first visible crack, typically spans 24 to 48 hours. The eagles are also currently incubating a second egg.

Nest History and Monitoring

The egg currently undergoing hatching is one of two laid by Jackie and Shadow in February. These eggs followed an incident earlier in the season where a raven attacked their initial two eggs. This is the fourth egg for the pair this year.

The eagles' nest is continuously monitored via a webcam operated by the Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit organization. The livestream, which launched in 2018, attracts viewers globally. Jackie and Shadow previously raised two eaglets, named Sunny and Gizmo, who successfully hatched last year.