Devoted fans of popular eagle couple Jackie and Shadow are in mourning after their newly hatched eggs were destroyed by crows, although there is still hope for another clutch.
Just before noon Friday, Shadow left their Big Bear nest with two eggs, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit organization that monitors the eagles around the clock.
Often, the eagles took turns in egg work. But Jackie was also out.
That afternoon, the crows flew into the unattended nest and ate the eggs.
Within 10 minutes, Jackie returned and began incubating, or sitting on, one of the broken eggs “because her hormones told her to incubate it,” said Jenny Voisard, the nonprofit’s media and website manager.
It is not clear why both splash parents were absent, “but we are sure they had their reasons as they were faithfully incubating the eggs,” the non-profit organization wrote in the “Eagle Log.”
There are possible explanations, according to Voisard.
While Jackie and Shadow were still out, the eagle observers noticed that there was a crack in one of the eggs, and they may have left because they knew that one of the eggs might not work.
There was also an unusual number of eagles in the area – at least three chicks and one young – and they may have been defending their nest.
The ravens would come in and wait for a while – waiting for the eagles to return, according to Voisard.
In time, they became bolder, and at least one pierced both eggs.
For crows, eggs provide a nutritious diet, rich in calcium and albumen.
“Nature is not meant to be cruel. Nature is,” said Voisard. “And we’re just looking for understanding to help take care of it and get along.”
Still, he admitted that the loss of the eggs had devastated many of Jackie and Shadow’s fans and colleagues at the nonprofit. There have been tears.
Jackie and Shadow paired up in 2018, and since then they’ve had a lot of heartbreak and happiness in the nest.
Late last January, Jackie laid a rare third egg, and all three hatched.
But not long after, there was a strong storm in the area. It it took the life of one of the eagleswhose name is Misty.
The remaining siblings – sisters Gizmo and Sunny – survived, and successfully escaped.
“They show us how to move forward,” Voisard said. “They’re resilient. Things happen to all of us in life, so I think the way Jackie and Shadow are able to keep going no matter what happens is inspiring.”
Jackie can still lay more eggs this season.
Before that happens, his body needs to reset. And there are signs that are starting to happen.
Just yesterday, they started to “withdraw,” said Voisard. Jackie didn’t sleep in the nest or sit on broken eggs.
Producing another clutch will require them to start from square one. They need to start meeting again, working on the nest together and mating. If this happens, there may be new eggs within a month.
Jackie’s put the second stick up front, in 2021. This January, the crows also destroyed two of her eggs. In February, she gave birth to two more (although they did not hatch successfully).
For now, the couple seems to be making up for the recent loss, Voisart said.
Last night, they visited the nest on top of a Jeffrey pine tree and sang together, “which was great to see,” she said. “It’s their way forward.”
