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Full nest: Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow lay third egg
Jackie has now laid three eggs.
(
Friends of Big Bear Valley
/
YouTube
)
Topline:
Jackie and Shadow could soon be a feathered family of five. Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle duo have laid their third egg of the season.
Why it matters: This is a rare trifecta for the nest on the north side of Big Bear Lake. Last year was the first time Jackie and Shadow had three eggs at once, but none of them hatched after weeks of waiting.
Why now: Jackie welcomed the third egg Tuesday evening. It was three days after she laid her second egg, which was three days after the first. Three to five days apart is the average for bald eagles, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley, which manages the popular YouTube livestream of the birds.
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The backstory: Thousands of fans are anxious — and hopeful — to see what comes of these eggs after the past two seasons ended in an empty nest. The couple's last chick to hatch and successfully fly free was Spirit in 2022.
What's next: The countdown is on. Jackie and Shadow's normal incubation time is 35 to 39 days, and Friends of Big Bear Valley has said eggs up to 41 days old have been known to hatch in other wild nests.
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