{"id":7709,"date":"2026-04-28T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/uk-uavihi-v-gnizdi-ptashenjata-dzheki-i-shedou-dosjagli-novogo-etapu\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T09:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:00:23","slug":"uk-uavihi-v-gnizdi-ptashenjata-dzheki-i-shedou-dosjagli-novogo-etapu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/uk-uavihi-v-gnizdi-ptashenjata-dzheki-i-shedou-dosjagli-novogo-etapu\/","title":{"rendered":"Milestones in the Nest: Jackie and Shadow\u2019s Eaglets Reach New Developmental Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The internet\u2019s most famous bald eagle nest is witnessing a flurry of biological progress. Nearly one month after hatching, the two eaglets born to Jackie and Shadow<\/strong> in Big Bear Valley are hitting critical developmental milestones that bring them one step closer to independence.<\/p>\n

Rapid Growth and Survival Skills<\/h3>\n

According to the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV)<\/strong>, the chicks are beginning to develop “thermal fur”\u2014a layer of down that provides essential insulation. This development proved vital recently, as the nest was recently subjected to a snowstorm.<\/p>\n

Beyond insulation, the eaglets are showing more advanced physiological changes:
\n– Pin Feathers:<\/strong> The chicks are growing their first juvenile pin feathers on their wingtips. These spiky structures are the precursors to the flight feathers necessary for their eventual departure from the nest.
\n– “Tucking” Behavior:<\/strong> In a major leap toward self-sufficiency, the chicks have begun “tucking.” This behavior allows them to regulate their own body temperature, reducing their total reliance on their parents for warmth through brooding.<\/p>\n

A Season of Resilience<\/h3>\n

The journey for this pair has been anything but easy. Jackie and Shadow, a pair that has been under the public eye since 2018, have faced significant setbacks in recent years. After two eggs were destroyed by ravens in January, the pair successfully laid and hatched two new eggs on April 4 and 5.<\/p>\n

This success is notable given the biological challenges of eagle reproduction. On average, only about 50% of bald eagle eggs<\/strong> successfully hatch. Furthermore, the survival rate for eaglets during the “fledging” stage\u2014the period when they first leave the nest\u2014is approximately 70%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Road to Independence<\/h3>\n

The transition from nestlings to independent hunters is a perilous one. As the chicks prepare to fledge, they face several environmental and biological hurdles:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Predation:<\/strong> Even as they grow, they remain vulnerable to other birds of prey, including hawks, owls, and even other eagles.<\/li>\n
  2. Weather Extremes:<\/strong> As seen in 2025, when a severe snowstorm resulted in the loss of one of their three chicks, inclement weather remains a primary threat to young eaglets.<\/li>\n
  3. Human Impact:<\/strong> Once they leave the nest, a significant danger arises from vehicle collisions, often occurring when young eagles scavenge for food near roads.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What Happens Next?<\/h3>\n

    The chicks are expected to remain in the nest for another 10 to 14 weeks<\/strong>. They will officially “fledge”\u2014take their first flight\u2014once their feathers are strong enough to support them. While males often take flight slightly earlier than females, both will eventually disperse across North America. <\/p>\n

    While FOBBV does not tag the birds, fledglings from this region have historically been spotted in locations ranging from British Columbia<\/strong> down to Baja California<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Summary:<\/strong> Having survived early seasonal storms and predatory threats, Jackie and Shadow\u2019s latest chicks are now developing the feathers and self-warming behaviors necessary to survive their upcoming transition to flight.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The internet\u2019s most famous bald eagle nest is witnessing a flurry of biological progress. Nearly one month after hatching, the two eaglets born to Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear Valley are hitting critical developmental milestones that bring them one step closer to independence. Rapid Growth and Survival Skills According to the nonprofit Friends of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7709"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schooler.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}