Big Bear Bald Eagle Watch
Posted: 05/01/26
It's official, the eaglets have names! Three cheers for Sandy and Luna!
Jackie & Shadow are Big Bear Lake's resident wild bald eagles. Each year, the duo returns to their nest in the valley to prep for a new clutch of eggs and hatchlings. The Friends of the Big Bear Valley maintains the famous Big Bear Eagle Cam that draws thousands of viewers world-wide to watch the life and times of Jackie & Shadow.
The Eaglets Have Names!
Big Bear's 3rd Graders have finalized their votes! Among the many names to select from, Big Bear's 3rd Graders had two clear winners for this year's clutch; so let's give three cheers for the newly named eaglets...Sandy and Luna!
Watch the Live Eagle Cam!
Egg-citing News Of 2026
May 5/01/2026 - The Bear Valley 3rd Grader votes have been cast - three cheers to the winning names and our newly named eaglets, Sandy and Luna!
April 4/04/2026 - At around 9:00 PM, eaglet #1 has broken out of it's egg with eaglet #2 following sometime after.
April 4/03/2026 - A pip? Yes there is! Let's keep our eagle eyes peeled for when the eggs hatch!
February 2/27/2026 - Woohoo! Jackie has laid her second egg of the new clutch!
February 2/24/2026 - Jackie has revealed her newly laid eagle egg for the month of February!
January 2/02/2026 - Tragedy has struck the nest with the loss of the two eagle eggs.
January 1/26/2026 - We have a second egg in the nest! Hip-Hip-Hooray!
January 1/23/2026 - A new egg has been laid! Let's all cheer on Jackie and hope for a good 2026 season.
Where To Safely View The Eagles
Even though the forest surrounding the eagle's nest remains off-limits during eagle season; there's still plenty of exciting opportunities to view the eagles.
Whether you're enjoying brisk walk in town, joining fellow bird-watchers on a chirp bird-walk, or going solo with your favorite binoculars in tow; one thing is certain, it's time to keep your eagle eyes, to the skies!
Chirp Nature Center (Info) | 578 Bonanza Trail, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 |
Dana Point Park | 39369 N Shore Dr, Fawnskin, CA 92333 |
Captain John's Marina | 39369 N Shore Dr, Fawnskin, CA 92333 |
Poligue Canyon | 40380-40386 N Shore Ln, Big Bear, CA 92314 |
Alpine Pedal Path | 740 Stanfield Cutoff, Big Bear, CA 92314 |
Boulder Bay Park | 39098 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 |
The Village | 652 Pine Knot Ave, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 |
Eagle Protection - Forest Closure Order
Every year, the San Bernardino National Forest places a Forest Closure Order to protect the eagle habitat from human activity in their vicinity. Disturbances can cause eagles to abandon their nests, even when eggs or eaglets are present.
Please respect the forest closure in place from March 12, 2026. The closure includes:
- Gray's Peak Trailhead (closed until July 1, 2026) Map of Closure
- Grout Bay Picnic Area (closed until July 1, 2026) Read Closure Detail
Gates will be closed to block off these areas to traffic.
History of Bald Eagles in Big Bear
According to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the eagles’ nest has been in active use since the fall of 2013. The surrounding area is annually closed to the public to protect the eagles.
In 2012, the first bald eagle chick (at least the first in recorded history) hatched in the Big Bear Valley. She was successfully raised to fledge. Since then, about a dozen eggs have been laid with just a fraction of them hatching and growing to maturity. Roughly 50% of eaglets survive to adulthood, making protection of their nesting habitat that much more important.
And what about that neat camera capturing all the excitement? The Eagle Cam was first installed in the fall of 2015 and recorded its first eagle nesting season in 2017.
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Friends of Big Bear Valley is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Your kindhearted support allows us to be who we are, Donate Today!