Thousands of people from all over the world are tuning into a livestream from Friends of Big Bear Valley, a non-profit organization and advocacy group, to watch and learn from two bald eagles named Jackie and Shadow. The eagles are working tirelessly to keep their eggs warm in the midst of a major winter storm in Southern California. The livestream shows the bald eagle duo taking turns covering their eggs at their nest, which is located in a Jeffrey Pine tree in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Jackie and Shadow have been incubating their eggs for more than 40 days amid some frigid temperatures in Big Bear, California. The organization previously explained that the birds “each have over 7000 water-proof feathers covering their body, so the snow they shake off does not even make them wet,†adding that they have an additional layer to keep them warm.
Despite the harsh weather conditions, the eagle parents have been captured on camera covering their eggs with their feathery bodies and a blanket of snow. The livestream has allowed viewers to observe the birds’ behavior closely, including Jackie’s method for handling the bad weather by sleeping through as much as possible. But, when she wakes up, she shakes off all the soft white stuff and her waterproof feathers keep her completely dry, even under her snowy roof.
In an update on its Facebook page, Friends of Big Bear Valley revealed that Jackie was nest-sitting for hours last weekend and has been taking turns with her partner. As of Monday afternoon, over 14,000 people were curious and watching the eagle pair in their nest.
According to the organization, the eggs, which were laid on separate days in January, probably won’t hatch, but the birds will continue incubating them “for up to a few weeks before they decide to give up.†However, the livestream has provided a unique opportunity for people to learn about these majestic birds of prey and their behavior during harsh weather conditions. Another eagle in Minnesota also garnered attention for getting covered in snow while sitting on its eggs last week. The state Department of Natural Resources explained that the blanket of snow on and around the eagle could actually help keep the eggs warmer.