‘Pip Watch’ starts soon at Big Bear Valley bald eagles’ nest. Mark your calendar

Southern California, “Pip Watch” 2026 is on the horizon.

That’s the term coined by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) for bald eagle hatching season, the period when the nonprofit’s wildlife experts will begin looking for hatching signs from the two eggs tucked snuggly into the famous nest of beloved bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow.

According to FOBBV, “Pip Watch” officially begins on March 31.

“This is when we look for the first small crack in the eggs that begins the hatching process,” FOBBV said in an Instagram post.

The environmental educational nonprofit runs the beloved 24/7 bald eagle nest cameras that chronicle the lives of Jackie and Shadow from their nest perched 145 feet high in a Jeffrey pine in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Day in, day out, the cameras are intently watched by wildlife enthusiasts captivated by the eagles’ every move.

This month, the cameras have captured endless “shift changes” between the bald eagle couple as they work together to keep their eggs safe and warm.

FOBBV said the ideal temperature for the embryos to develop is 99 degrees.

FOBBV said that once there’s an initial hole in the outer shell of an egg during “Pip Watch,” it could take two to three days for a chick to fully hatch.

Still, as the nonprofit put it, “there are no guarantees in nature,” so the only thing fans can do is observe the nest and “see what unfolds” during the potential hatching period next week.

Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 eggs

Jackie and Shadow currently have two eggs in their nest.

It’s their second clutch of the season; the couple’s first egg of this second clutch made its grand debut on Feb. 24. Like clockwork, Jackie laid the second egg of their second clutch a few days later, on Feb. 27.

Fans of the eagles were overjoyed, especially because tragedy had struck the nest earlier this season.

Jackie laid two eggs this past January. On Jan. 30, a pair of ravens intruded on Jackie and Shadow’s nest while the couple was away for a few hours. The ravens breached the eggs.

At the time of the devastating loss, FOBBV said there was still hope that Jackie could lay a second clutch 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 tense moments in Jackie and Shadow’s home this month.

On March 6, FOBBV said Jackie abruptly left the nest for more than 20 hours, unusual behavior for the eagle mother during nesting season.

Shadow stepped in to guard and incubate their eggs as viewers glued to the livestream fretted over Jackie’s whereabouts. On March 7, Jackie returned to her habitat, safe and sound, and much to the relief of viewers.

FOBBV said it was likely that Jackie was “handling a possible intruder or territorial issue causing her to spend the night away from the nest,” though we may never know what happened.

On March 13, FOBBV said the eagles were on alert defending their eggs from ravens hovering around their nest. They recognized the dangers all too well.

“Jackie and Shadow are used to these highly opportunistic predators and scavengers that see their eggs as a nutritious source of food,” the nonprofit wrote in an Instagram post that day.

Eventually, the potential intruders went away.

Of course, there have also been many tender moments in the nest this month, including the eagles working together to add fluff to their nest, and Shadow regularly bringing Jackie fresh fish to eat.

In daily social media posts, FOBBV has touted the couple’s partnership and their strong, steady efforts as they try to make it to hatching season.

“The quiet mornings, clear skies, and warm weather has allowed them perfect synchrony on the nest,” FOBBV wrote on Instagram Thursday. “Jackie and Shadow’s shared commitment has truly been joyful to watch.”

Fans of the Big Bear eagle camera likely learned something about the amazing birds from Sandy Steers. Video broadcast Thursday Feb. 13, 2026 on the NBC4 News.

‘Save Moon Camp’: FOBBV’s fundraising efforts

FOBBV’s executive director Sandy Steers died last month, and the organization has been mourning the loss of their beloved resident bald eagle expert.

Steers was the driving force behind the launch of the eagles’ nest cameras.

After Steers’ death, FOBBV launched a $10 million fundraising effort to halt the Moon Camp housing and marina development that could be built less that one mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest. The nonprofit is working with the San Bernardino Mountain Land Trust to raise the money by July 31, 2026.

As of Friday, FOBBV’s Save Moon Camp website said the fundraiser had collected $1,535,438 in donations.

“Let’s do it for Sandy,” the website read.

In an Instagram post earlier this month detailing the fundraising efforts, FOBBV noted that with the death of Steers still heavy on their hearts, this nesting season has felt “emotional for our community.”

“Sandy would tell us that it is OK and normal to feel things. She would also tell us to trust the eagles and the process,” the post read. “She would urge us to stay calm but remain curious. She would remind us that we can protect Jackie and Shadow’s home. She made sure of it.”