The word “stick” may come after the word “soft” in the dictionary, but in the world of a bald eagle busily prepping a nest near Big Bear Lake, the stick part has to come first.
And with good reason: Jackie and Shadow, the well-loved, watched-around-the-clock, super-famous Big Bear bald eagles add structure-providing sticks to their sizable aerie before cushier materials are found, beak- or talon-gathered, and thoughtfully placed.
Those soft materials can run the gamut, with pine needles, grasses, and other organic forest-found items that can cushion the spot where any potential eggs may soon rest.
Both eagles have been on impressive stick-delivering duty in recent weeks — a record was recently broken, in fact, with the bonded pair delivering their highest number of sticks in a day ever — but the fluff-finding chapter has been on hold.
That changed Dec. 7 when Shadow showed bearing fluff.
It was the “big news” from a busy, build-heavy day for the birds, per the Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that operates cameras that watch the eagles around the clock, including a camera placed high in a Jeffrey pine near the nest.
The always-expressive eagles are known for putting on quite the engaging show for a rapt audience they do not know is watching.
“He seemed quite happy with himself,” shared the Friends of Big Bear Valley on social media, observing his behavior following the fluff delivery. “Jackie noticed it and dug in right away when she came in.”
Even though a steady-ish stream of fluff may continue to arrive at the nest in the weeks to come, we’re still a few weeks out from the exciting commencement of Egg Watch 2026.
Jackie has laid eggs in past years around late January, give or take, but as any prospective parent knows, creating a cozy, fluff-filled nursery well ahead of any expected little ones is a task that takes time, effort, and an eagle eye on the prize.
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