In Southern California, “Pip Watch” 2026 is near.
This is a term coined by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) for bald eagle season, when non-profit wildlife experts will begin looking for signs of hatching from two eggs laid in the popular nest of beloved bald eagles Jackie and Shadow.
According to FOBBV, “Pip Watch” officially begins on March 31.
“This is when we look for the first tiny crack in the eggs that starts the hatching process,” FOBBV said in an Instagram post.
The nonprofit environmental organization runs the beloved eagle’s 24/7 live cameras of Jackie and Shadow from their 145-foot-high nest in San Bernardino’s Jeffrey pine Forest.
Every day, the cameras are closely watched by wildlife enthusiasts who are captivated by everything eagles do.
This month, cameras captured the endless “transformational exchanges” between bald eagle couples as they work together to keep their eggs safe and warm.
FOBBV said the ideal temperature for embryos to develop is 99 degrees.
FOBBV said that once there is a hole in the outer shell of the egg during “Pip Watch,” it can take two to three days for the chick to fully hatch.
However, as the non-profit organization said, “there are no guarantees in nature,” so the only thing fans can do is watch the nest and “see what happens” during a possible hatching next week.
Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 eggs
Jackie and Shadow currently have two eggs in their nest.
It’s their second episode of the season; The couple’s first egg of this second clutch was laid on February 24. Like clockwork, Jackie laid the second egg of their second clutch a few days later, on Feb. 27.
Eagles fans were elated, especially since tragedy struck the nest earlier this season.
Jackie laid two eggs this past January. On January 30, a pair of crows entered Jackie and Shadow’s nest while the pair were away for several hours. The crows broke the eggs.
At the time of the devastating loss, FOBBV said there was still hope that Jackie could lay a second batch of eggs later in the season.
Jackie and Shadow made it happen.
This month in the nest
Naturally, like any anxious parents waiting for their little ones to arrive, there have been some tough times at Jackie and Shadow’s house this month.
On March 6, FOBBV said Jackie suddenly left the nest for more than 20 hours, which is unusual behavior for a mother eagle during nesting season.
Shadow stepped in to guard and incubate their eggs while the spectators were stuck in the stream worrying about Jackie’s whereabouts. On March 7, Jackie returned to her residence, safe and sound, to the delight of viewers.
FOBBV says it’s possible that Jackie was “dealing with a potential physical or social issue that caused her to spend the night away from the nest,” although we may never know what happened.
On March 13, FOBBV said that the eagles were ready to protect their eggs from the crows flying around their nest. They were very aware of those risks.
“Jackie and Shadow are used to these opportunistic predators and scavengers who see their eggs as a source of nutritious food,” the nonprofit wrote in an Instagram post that day.
Eventually, the people who would have interfered left.
Of course, there were plenty of tender moments at the nest this month, including the eagles working together to add fluff to their nest, and Shadow always bringing Jackie a fresh fish to eat.
On daily social media, FOBBV highlighted the couple’s partnership and their strong, consistent efforts as they tried to reach the hatching season.
“Calm mornings, clear skies and warm weather have allowed them to fit in well in the nest,” FOBBV wrote on Instagram Thursday. “Jackie and Shadow’s bond together was fun to watch.”
Big Bear eagle camera fans may have learned something about amazing birds from Sandy Steers. Video broadcast on Thursday February 13, 2026 on NBC4 News.
‘Save Moon Camp’: FOBBV’s fundraising effort
FOBBV’s executive director, Sandy Steers, passed away last month, and the organization is still mourning the loss of a beloved resident bald eagle expert.
Steers was the inspiration behind the introduction of eagle nest cameras.
After Steers’ death, FOBBV launched a $10 million fundraising effort to stop the development of Moon Camp housing and a marina that would be built less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow’s cabin. The nonprofit is working with the San Bernardino Mountain Land Trust to raise money through July 31, 2026.
As of Friday, FOBBV’s Save Moon Camp website said the fundraiser had raised $1,535,438 in donations.
“Let’s do it Sandy,” reads the website.
In an Instagram post earlier this month detailing the fundraising effort, FOBBV noted that Steers’ death is still heavy on their hearts, this time the nest felt “emotional to our community.”
“Sandy was telling us that it’s okay and normal to hear things. She was also telling us to trust the eagles and the process,” the post read. He encouraged us to be calm but to remain curious. He was reminding us that we can protect Jackie and Shadow’s home.
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