Move over, reality TV — there’s a new viral sensation stealing hearts, and this one comes with feathers.
Jackie and Shadow, the internet’s favorite bald eagle power couple, have officially leveled up their nest game with the arrival of their third fuzzy eaglet, capping off a rollercoaster journey that had fans glued to their computer screens. After two successful egg hatches earlier in the week, the final chick emerged, turning last year’s sad disappointment of no baby eaglets into a triumph celebrated by thousands of virtual babysitters.
Chick1 and Chick2 watch as their sibling makes its way out of the egg. Photo by Friends of Big Bear Valley
The drama unfolded live on cameras operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that’s been streaming the eagles’ highs and lows since Jackie’s own nest was discovered by a third-grader more than a decade ago. This year, the pair’s three-egg clutch had viewers on “hatch watch” for days, with the first two chicks cracking their way into the world to instant fanfare. But it was the third egg — a symbol of redemption after last year’s heartbreaking three eggs that didn’t hatch — that truly sent the online nest-watchers into a frenzy.
“So happy to see we finally got 3 live and well lil babies,” one devoted fan wrote, while another cheered, “What a wonderful change from last year’s sadness.” The nonprofit’s Facebook page echoed the excitement, declaring the newest arrival “another precious gift that was carefully unwrapped in the early hours of this beautiful … morning!”
By nightfall, more than 32,000 viewers had tuned in to watch Jackie multitask like a pro, alternating between keeping her downy trio warm and delicately preening their feathers. For this audience, no detail was too small: A meticulously kept log documents every nest departure, fish food delivery, and even the timing of airborne “poop shots” from the little eaglets.
The proud parent watches over all three babies. Photo by Friends of Big Bear Valley
The eagles’ journey to stardom began simply. Friends of Big Bear Valley installed their first nest cam shortly after Jackie’s birth, and today, their YouTube channel boasts more than half a million subscribers hungry for all the fun and feathery content. Last year’s unsuccessful breeding season only deepened the bond between the birds and their fans, making this year’s trio of healthy chicks feel like a win for everyone watching, along with the happy mom and dad.
True to tradition, the eaglets’ names will soon be decided by Big Bear Valley third-graders — a nod to the curious student who started it all. Until then, the chicks are simply Chick1, Chick2, and the newest little star, Chick3, all growing at “eat, sleep, repeat” speed under their parents’ watchful eyes.
While bald eagles are no longer endangered, their protected status adds a bit of specialness to this feel-good family saga. As one YouTube viewer perfectly put it: “We all are out here rooting for you.” And really, who could resist rooting for a family that turned a 145-foot pine tree into the ultimate reality show set?
