The first of three eggs belonging to a famous Big Bear bald eagle couple is unlikely to hatch at this point, an expert said Thursday.
Jackie and Shadow have been guarding their eggs, which generally have a 35-day incubation period since they were laid in late January.
“For the first egg we’re just past 38 days … so that first egg is probably not viable,” Big Bear eagle expert Sandy Steers said in an interview on KTLA.
The other two eggs are still within the window of possibility, Steers said. “We have to watch and see. Nature doesn’t announce ahead of time what it’s gonna do and we have to be patient.”
Tens of thousands of followers have been watching the process on a live nest cam provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV).
Steers said the eagles themselves would let watchers know how long the remaining eggs are viable.
“Jackie and Shadow will let us know when to give up. They will start giving up themselves and leaving the nest for longer periods of time,” Steers said.
The couple’s nest is located in Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine tree.
Watchers can tell the bald eagles apart because Jackie is larger and her beak is both longer and thicker than Shadow’s.
FOBBV stated on its website that it is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
“We protect and preserve our amazing natural surroundings through environmental education and advocacy about its value and community benefit,” the website says.