Live Bald Eagle Nest in Big Bear Lake California

The nest is located at Big Bear Lake, California. It is about 110 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine tree that stands 120 tall. The nest is the current home for Jackie and Shadow, a local bald eagle pair. Q-When will the eggs hatch? A-The eggs were laid January 8th & 11th. Normal incubation time is 35 to 42 days. The current eggs are well past the normal hatch dates and therefore not viable. Q-How long will Jackie and Shadow continue to incubate the eggs? A-This is the first nest failure for Jackie and Shadow, so we do not know how much longer they are likely to incubate. Q-What will happen to the eggs now? A-Eventually, Jackie and Shadow will abandon the eggs. The eggs may deteriorate and become part of the nest or they may be preyed on by predators. The U.S. Forest Service has decided to let nature take its course and will not retrieve the eggs. Q-How do you tell Jackie and Shadow apart? A-Jackie is larger than Shadow. Jackie’s beak is both longer and thicker from top to bottom than Shadow’s. Shadow has a few dark streaks at the end of his tail feathers. Q-How can the eagles handle the cold temperatures, snow and rain? A-Bald Eagles are well equipped to handle harsh weather conditions. They have down feathers against their skin that can hold in the heat their bodies generate. On top of the down, they have approximately 7000 waterproof feathers that can keep the wet and cold out and also helps keep the heat inside. Q-Where do the eagles sleep at night and does the light bother them? A-During nesting season, Jackie the female sleeps in the nest, Shadow sleeps perched in a tree nearby in case he is needed. The light at the nest is an infrared light, this light cannot be seen by the eagles or humans. It is only picked up by the camera, which enables us to view the nest at night. In the off season, both eagles sleep perched in trees within their territory. Q-Where is Simba? A-Simba left the Big Bear area in August 2019. There have been no reported sightings of him. He is out there exploring his big new world and fine tuning his young eagle skills. This is a view into the everyday life of wild bald eagles and the nature that surrounds them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBQhLAIBTH0&feature=emb_title