Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 babies: Everything you need to k...

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, The two new chicks hatched in early April and are eating lots of fish, sleeping, and acting like siblings.

The post Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 babies: Everything you need to know about the new eaglets appeared first on Popular Science. The chicks are rn figuring out their “pecking order,” or who gets first dibs on food. (yes, really)

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The Details

It’s been another roller coaster nesting season for Jackie and Shadow , a pair of the internet-famous bald eagle parents living in San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California. After two of their eggs were destroyed by ravens in January, Jackie and Shadow laid two new eggs that have successfully hatched.

Chick 1 hatched on April 4 at 9:33 p. PDT, while Chick 2 followed on April 5 at 8:30 a.

Why This Matters

Their large nest in Big Bear Valley east of Los Angeles is livestreamed 24 hours a day of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) and has captivated millions. Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam 1 According to FOBBV , Jackie and Shadow have alternated sitting with the chicks and hunting for fish in Big Bear Lake. When a rain storm rolled in yesterday, Jackie kept the chicks warm until the weather cleared up.

This could have implications for future research in this area.

Key Takeaways

• The siblings have also been seen pecking and pushing each other during some of their feeding sessions.
• This behavior called bonking is completely normal and sibling rivalry is common among chicks.
• They take time determining “pecking order,” or who will get to eat first.
• Typically, the dominant chick will eat first.

The Bottom Line

When the eaglets reach about 10 weeks old, the FOBBV team may try to guess their sex based on their size, vocal pitch, and other visual characteristics. We are also awaiting details on what the chicks will be named and when the naming contest will be held.

How do you feel about this development?