And then there were 3!

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

Folks around the world have been glued to their screens, watching as Jackie and Shadow – the bald eagles in Big Bear – incubated their three eggs. The wait was on for that first pip, then the second and finally the third.

And then there were 3! The third eaglet hatched on March 8. The three chicks vie for a tasty morsel of fish or coot.

Jackie laid the first egg on Jan. 22, followed by the second on Jan. 25 and the third on Jan. 28. As Sandy Steers, the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, explained, the eagles practice delayed incubation so the eggs will hatch at approximately the same time. Pip watch – the first signs of hatching – began on March 1. Two days later – on March 3 at 11:26 p.m. – Chick 1 emerged from its egg. Chick 2 made its presence known on March 4 in the afternoon. Would the third egg hatch? Its pip was confirmed on March 6 with hatching taking place in the early morning hours of March 8. Interviewed on television, Steers could not contain her excitement. The past two years Jackie and Shadow have sat faithfully on their eggs but not one hatched. To have all three hatch is cause for celebration. People watching the eagles on the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam have noticed and commented on what appears to be sibling rivalry. As Jackie and Shadow feed their offspring, one eaglet appears to be the dominant chick, grabbing the biggest share of the fish or coot the adults have brought to the nest. This behavior is called “bonking” and is normal among eaglets in the nest. The dominant eaglet, often the first to hatch, tends to eat first, while the younger ones wait their turn. Bonking teaches the eaglets valuable survival skills, such as how to compete for food when in the wild. One viewer commented, “It amazes me that Jackie can use her beak for breaking twigs and finding prey, then (be) so gentle when feeding her babies. Shadow is so diligent with Daddy duty, tucking them in and keeping them warm.”

The first two eaglets hatched fairly close to each other. Jackie and Shadow immediately exhibited excellent parenting skills, feeding their babies and keeping them safe and warm. (Photos: Friends of Big Bear Valley nest cam)

Both adult eagles are displaying excellent parenting skills, bringing the eaglets food they have caught for them, breaking off morsels to drop into the chicks’ open beaks and then tucking them under their bodies to keep them safe and warm. The first two eaglets were hatched prior to the snowstorm last week but weathered the storm well, thanks to their parents’ diligence. As people stayed glued to the video, some commented on how attentive the adult sitting on the nest is. Their head pops up when another bird is heard in the area. And both Jackie and Shadow are immediately aware when the other is approaching the nest. They emit loud chirps and caws as if to welcome their partner home. The eaglets will stay in the nest until they fledge at about 10 to 14 weeks. They will then stay in the vicinity of the nest for another four to 12 weeks. The Friends of Big Bear Valley will hold a contest to name the chicks. Folks may submit their names and the Friends will draw about 25 names; those will be voted on by Big Bear’s third-graders to choose the names for the three eaglets. To watch the eaglets log on to www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nGcuE. But be warned – it is addictive!