Storm is headed for Big Bear’s famous bald eagle nest. What it means for newly hatched chicks

A late winter storm is headed for Big Bear and Jackie and Shadow’s newly hatched chicks.

Between 8 and 12 inches of snow, a brief burst of rain and whipping winds could hit the nest, nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest, late Wednesday into early Friday, with a winter storm warning expected to be issued by the National Weather Service.

While weather is the biggest risk for the eaglets, they’ll likely stay safe as long as they’re able to snuggle under their parents.

The roughly 3-ounce chicks require near constant attention and protection, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that manages the YouTube livestream focused on the famous feathered couple.

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Jackie and Shadow share parenting responsibilities — and they’re no strangers to severe weather. When Southern California was hit with a series of strong storms last February, mama Jackie watched over the nest for nearly 62 hours straight, her longest shift on record.

But the real risk for the chicks would be if another major storm moves through in the coming weeks, according to Peter Sharpe, a wildlife biologist with the Institute for Wildlife Studies and the expert behind Jackie and Shadow’s camera system.

“They're going to reach a point, especially if there's 3, even if there's 2, that they all can't fit under an adult,” Sharpe said. “If they can't really get under the adult for warmth, then they're partially exposed. I think they just get a bit too cold.”

And this has happened to the couple’s chicks in previous seasons.

An eaglet named BBB (for Big Bear Baby) didn’t survive a day-long rain storm and freezing temperatures in 2018. BBB, and its nestmate Stormy, were six and a half weeks old at that point. They were too big to fit completely under the adults to stay dry, but not old enough to have all of their waterproof feathers. Friends of Big Bear Valley believes BBB’s death was from exposure.

Jackie covered under a blanket of snow on Feb. 25, 2023.

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Friends of Big Bear Valley

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YouTube

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Another chick named Cookie suffered the same fate the next season when it was six weeks old.

“As long as the chicks can be under the adults, they should be fine,” Sharpe said. “ It's just when they reach this sort of intermediate [stage], maybe 3 or 4 weeks till 7 weeks. They're getting pretty large, but don't have their full feathers, so they can get wet a lot easier.”