Update: Both eggs were “breached” per Friends of Big Bear Valley.
Even if you’ve watched every nature documentary in existence, or just about, and read up on the ebbs and flows of the wilder world, a natural turn of events can be challenging to observe.
That is what thousands of fans of the Big Bear Lake bald eagles are experiencing after seeing ravens visit the two recently laid eggs in the famous nest on the afternoon of Jan. 30.
Eagle-eyed viewers observing the nest-close camera spied a crack in an egg prior to the ravens arriving; this development was soon confirmed by Friends of Big Bear Valley, the environmental non-profit that oversees the camera. (It is unknown if Jackie laid this particular egg Jan. 23 or 26.)
Early in the afternoon, the eagles left the nest for an extended period, which can be viewed as unusual behavior this early in the incubation period; soon, ravens arrived to investigate what was in the nest.
One egg was moved and pecked open by a raven, but minutes later Jackie returned to the nest and resumed incubating the egg still sitting snugly at the center of the nest bowl (the raven also inspected this egg, but the extent of any damage is unknown).
What comes next is, as always, up to the eagles and nature.
Fans will continue watching to see if the second egg proves viable, and, if not, how long Jackie and Shadow continue to incubate it. And, of course, people are watching because they do adore these bald eagles, whatever might come from their brooding season.
Whatever takes place in the days and weeks ahead, a representative of Friends of Big Bear Valley shared a ray of sunshine: There is time still for Jackie to “reset” and lay another clutch this season.
“She has done it before,” is the positive word from the organization.
Keep those wings crossed and hopes high for both the remaining egg, and any possible eggs to come.