Take a break from tracking the price of eggs and watch real drama unfold on the bald eagle nest cam

While the country remains rightfully concerned about the future of democracy under the Trump administration, there is one American symbol that still radiates hope: the bald eagle.

Two majestic birds, Jackie and Shadow, are trying to expand their family in Big Bear, California. Last week, Jackie laid three eggs, and now thousands of viewers are tuning in to the bald eagle nest cam maintained by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley to cheer their feathered friends on.

Let’s take a deeper look into the iconic bird and how you can watch the action:

A brief history of our national symbol

A shocking-but-true fact is that the bald eagle was not officially the national bird until President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in 2024, as NPR reported. Most people assumed this was already the case.

This is because shortly after the country’s creation in 1776, three congressional committees tried to agree on an official seal to represent the new country. A consensus could not be reached, so Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, came up with the Great Seal, which borrowed elements of the three failed designs. A bald eagle replaced a white eagle because the species is native to North America.

Congress approved Thomson’s design in 1782, making the bald eagle the unofficial symbol of the new nation. The species would go on to grace flags, money, government buildings, military uniforms, and more.

Jackie and Shadow’s journey

The bald eagle nest cam was first established in 2016 to watch Jackie’s parents, Ricky and Lucy. Typically, bald eagles do not stay in Big Bear year-round, but these birds decided to do things differently.

Jackie followed their example even after her parents’ disappearance. She began a relationship with another bald eagle named Mr. B at one of her parent’s old nests and hatched two chicks, Stormy and BBB. Sadly, BBB died after only six and a half weeks following a big rainstorm and freezing temperatures.

While Stormy, Jackie, and Mr. B were still using the nest, Shadow decided to go after Jackie’s affections. Shadow must be some kind of a bald eagle smooth talker because—even though eagles typically mate for life—he was successful in kicking Mr. B to the curb and taking over as Jackie’s mate.

Jackie and Shadow have been together since 2018 and have successfully raised two chicks. The pair has faced several instances of adversity along their parental journey, including ravens eating their eggs, some eggs being unfertilized, and even laying a broken egg.

Webcam viewers watched these birds battle harsh weather conditions and mourn the loss of babies just as a human couple would. And during the past two seasons, Jackie and Shadow did not successfully hatch a chick, despite Jackie laying multiple eggs and the two being diligent incubators.

Three eggs offer hope for new eaglets in 2025

Jackie and Shadow have persisted despite their recent losses. On January 22, 2025, Jackie laid her first egg of the season. Three days later, she laid another one, and on January 28, egg number 3 showed up.

This is notable because eagles usually only lay one or two eggs. The incubation period is typically around 35 days long, and dramatic tension is building. At last check, Big Bear’s Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam 1 had more than 11,000 live viewers on YouTube. (Cam 2, which is more of a wide shot, had just over 500 viewers.)

To watch Jackie and Shadow care for their eggs, check out the webcam embedded below. Cross your wings and hope their hatch successfully!