Shadow spotted with another bald eagle at Big Bear nest just days after Jackie’s death

BIG BEAR, Calif. (KESQ) - Shadow, the male Big Bear bald eagle, has been spotted with another eagle in the nest he previously shared with Jackie.

This is just a few days after Jackie, Shadow's partner of eight years, died following weeks in intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center. 

On Thursday, the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam captured the two eagles spending time in the nest together for the first time. 

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Biologists say "KD-1," another bald eagle tracked since her birth, is almost of breeding age.

Shadow’s last nest visit was on July 23, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley.

The nonprofit added that KD1 first visited the nest on Aug. 10, just hours after it was announced Jackie had passed and has stopped by a couple of times since then.

KD1 was first hatched in March 2022 in Southern California. Experts have not been able to confirm whether KD1 is a female or not, but the eagle is larger than Shadow. Female eagles are 25-33% larger than males.

It is still too early to know if Shadow will return to the nest and mate, and Shadow would be unlikely to seek another mate until his hormones kick in later in the year. 

"Shadow glided into the nest this afternoon, with KD1 not far behind. It is great to see Shadow up close and doing well. Is this a new bond forming between these 2? Well, it could be and it may not be, only time will tell. We can only observe and see what takes place once breeding season is upon us, which will not be until later this fall/winter season.

In the meantime, we are happy to see Shadow has some company out there in the habitat."

-Friends of Big Bear Valley

As for Jackie, the nonprofit noted that talks have begun with other local organizations and agencies for how to memoralize the beloved eagle, but at this time, there is no information to share on a possible gathering to remember her. FOBBV officials said that when they have something to announce, they will share it on their official Facebook page.