Live cam bald eagles lost 1 of 3 chicks after snowstorm

Update 3/15/2025 9:39pm EST: Friends of Big Bear Valley has confirmed that internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow have lost one of their three eaglets. A statement shared Saturday read:

“We are sad to let everyone know that one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks did not make it through the severe winter storm that brought over 2 feet of snow to the area. The chick’s passing happened some time after all three were observed together getting fed at 6 pm on 3/13. 

We do not know what happened or why it passed. The shorter snow berm now makes that chick partially visible in the nest bowl, on the right side. 

We do not know which chick it was because they were very close in size. We understand completely how hard this is to hear. Please allow yourself to grieve and feel whatever you feel. Please honor the chick for its courage in getting as far as it did and doing whatever it came to do.”

Update 3/15/2025 4:37pm EST: In addition to the earlier statements seen below, FOBBV has debunked a few rumors regarding what happened to one of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets. At this time, the eagles have not removed anything large enough from the nest bowl that would be a chick. Also, Shadow did not step on any of the chicks; rather one of the chicks had been laying on his foot (which is not uncommon) but had been safely rolled back into the nest bowl.

Update 3/15/2025 11:13am EST: FOBBV issued an updated statement: “Viewer Discretion: Sadly, it is possible the remains of the missing chick may have been observed in the nest bowl, on the right side. We are waiting for more clear visuals to confirm and will keep you updated. We know that both the possibility and the uncertainty are hard to hear. We share these feelings with all of you. We have no way of knowing which chick was lost because they were very close in size; they also grow and change very quickly at this stage.“

Update 3/15/2025 9:45am EST: On Friday evening, FOBBV released a statement: “Sadly, it is possible the remains of the missing chick may have been observed in the nest bowl, on the right side. We are waiting for more clear visuals to confirm and will keep you updated. We know that both the possibility and the uncertainty are hard to hear. We share these feelings with all of you.“

Internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow potentially lost one of their three eaglets overnight. Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that runs the 24/7 live cam, posted a statement Friday morning acknowledging that only two of the eaglets could be seen.

“During the first feeding session today only two chicks were visible,” the statement reads. “We cannot see the entire nest bowl because the view remains partially obstructed by snow. We are observers of nature and do not know the entirety of the current situation.”

Viewers tuning into the Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Friday morning expressed shock and sadness when only two of the eaglets were visible in the nest around 6am PST. “​​We are viewing the everyday life of Bald Eagles,” a moderator on the livestream wrote Friday morning. “Sometimes our emotions override our curiosity. It’s OK to trust them when you need to and to make healthy decisions for yourself.”

A snowstorm battered the area Thursday night, dumping up to two feet of snow in the San Bernardino mountains. Jackie could be seen sheltering the eaglets overnight as winds shook the nest. More snow could move into the area Friday afternoon. Temperatures are expected in the 40s and 50s over the weekend.

Earlier this week, Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, told Popular Science that weather was their biggest threat to the trio going forward. Eagles don’t develop their waterproof feathers and layers of down until about six weeks after hatching.

According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, only 50 percent of bald eagle eggs successfully hatch and 70 percent survive their first year. In 2024, Jackie and Shadow’s trio of eggs failed to hatch and in 2023, ravens ate the pair’s eggs. The couple did have have had one chick in 2019 and one in 2022.

In an interview with KTLA, Steers said: “We don’t know anything yet and we can’t confirm anything. We don’t know exactly what the situation is. We’ll have to wait and see.”

This is a developing story…