The internet's most dramatic reality show just got two new cast members. Jackie and Shadow, the bald eagle power couple from Southern California, have welcomed two new eaglets, and you get to help name them. Sort of.
Because apparently, we're not just letting the parents figure it out anymore.
To throw your hat into the naming ring for Chick 1 (hatched April 4) and Chick 2 (April 5), you'll need to make a small donation to the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV). This nonprofit keeps the 24/7, ad-free livestream of the nest going, which is probably how you've already spent hours watching these feathered lovebirds, let's be honest.
Submissions close Sunday, April 26, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Then, in a move that feels both adorably wholesome and slightly chaotic, FOBBV hands a random sample of names over to local third graders. They get the final say. Because who better to name a majestic bird of prey than someone who still believes in the tooth fairy?
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxThe Saga Continues
This isn't just any eagle nest. Jackie and Shadow's San Bernardino National Forest abode has seen more drama than a soap opera. Remember January, when ravens — the avian equivalent of playground bullies — destroyed their first two eggs? Yeah, that happened. But our resilient duo bounced back, laying two more, which are now these fluffy, peeping bundles of joy.
Last year, over 54,000 name suggestions poured in. The kids whittled it down to Sunny and Gizmo. In 2022, it was Spirit, chosen from 10,000 ideas. This tradition of kid-chosen names actually started with Jackie's parents, Ricky and Lucy. Because even eagles have family legacies.
Life's Not All Warm Nests and Worms
While adorable, life for an eaglet is less "fluffy Instagram influencer" and more "survival of the fittest." They'll spend 10 to 14 weeks in the nest, dodging threats from hawks, other eagles, and even owls. Plus, the weather can be brutal. A March snowstorm in 2025 claimed one of Jackie and Shadow's three chicks.
Only about 70% of eaglets survive past fledging (that's when they finally fly the coop). Once they're out there, cars become a major hazard as they scavenge for roadkill. It's a harsh world out there, even for the internet famous.
Jackie and Shadow themselves have been a pair since 2018, with successful broods in 2019 and 2022. They've had their share of empty nests too, in 2023 and 2024. Considering only about half of all eagle eggs actually hatch, this pair is doing pretty well, all things considered.
Once these new chicks spread their wings, they could end up anywhere from Baja California to British Columbia or even Yellowstone National Park. FOBBV doesn't tag them, so their post-nest adventures remain a mystery. Which, if you think about it, is probably for the best. Some things are better left to the imagination, especially when third graders are involved.
