Quick Take
- Shadow was spotted with a new female just days after Jackie's death, and yet what their pairing actually signals is far more complicated than it appears. Meet Kaydee →
- Bald eagles are famous for mating for life, but scientists draw a quiet line that most wildlife fans have never heard of. See the nuanced science →
- Before Shadow, Jackie had already done something that completely reframes how both her story and his should be read. Revisit Jackie's full story →
- Scientists can't agree on whether eagles grieve, and the reason one expert gives for apparent mourning behavior is sharply counterintuitive. Explore the grief debate →
For years, millions of wildlife lovers tuned in to a livestream focused on a single object – a bald eagle nest perched high in the treetops overlooking Big Bear Valley. For eight of those years, a bonded pair of adult eagles named Shadow and Jackie ruled the roost.
Sadly, Jackie passed away on August 10, 2026, after weeks of treatment for severe anemia. Just days later, eagle-eyed viewers spotted something new in the nest. A young female eagle began to appear. Shadow and this new female eagle were quickly captured singing a morning wake-up song together.
Has Shadow already moved on from his beloved mate Jackie? It’s a bit more complicated than that.
Who’s Kaydee?
At first, the young female wasn’t named. She was only identified by her leg band showing “KD1.” The eagle was banded by the Orange County Water District as part of a tracking program for eagles born in the area.
But the young eagle, born in 2022, quickly got a name: Kaydee. She was named by the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the group that maintains the webcams and supports wildlife preservation in Big Bear Valley. The executive director of FOBBV, Sandy Steers, who passed away in February 2026, was a strong advocate to protect the area from development.
Thanks to her leadership and ongoing efforts by FOBBV, the group was able to raise enough money to save nearby Moon Camp area from development. One of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets was named in Sandy’s honor.
Naming the young eagle was an unusual move for the group. They typically only name eagles who appear and stick around for a long time. However, with Jackie’s passing and a new female arriving so quickly, the group seemed to make an exception.
Looking Back at Jackie’s Legacy
If Kaydee does stick around, she will have some big wings to fill. Jackie herself hatched in Big Bear Valley in 2012 and was the first documented bald eagle chick born there. She paired with Shadow in 2018, around the time she reached adulthood. Together, the duo raised several chicks, including Cookie, Simba, Spirit, Sunny, Gizmo, Luna, and Sandy.
On July 17, 2026, Jackie was found injured after a fight with other eagles. She was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment, where medical staff determined she was severely anemic. The team began various treatments, but unfortunately, Jackie’s anemia worsened. She passed away just over three weeks later.
A necropsy was performed but could not confirm a single cause of death.
Do Bald Eagles Mate for Life?
Bald eagles are generally considered to be socially monogamous. This means a bonded pair, like Shadow and Jackie, usually stays together and returns to the same nest each year. They also raise their young together. However, scientists can’t confirm absolute commitment to the relationship.
The Center for Conservation Biology in Virginia, a leading research facility on bald eagles, notes that mate loyalty is high. However, there aren’t enough solid studies yet to determine how high or whether there is any statistical percentage of pairings that end up in eagle divorce.
When a mate dies, the surviving eagle usually doesn’t fly solo for long. They are usually looking for a new partner close to the same nest and territory. In fact, Jackie demonstrated this behavior in the past. When her previous mate, Mr. B, left the area, she found Shadow and formed a new bonded relationship.
Do Eagles Grieve?
Researchers are not in agreement as to whether eagles grieve the loss of a bonded partner. Some say they do see signs that fit human grief patterns. Other researchers don’t think this is the case.
For example, in a different bird species, behavior after a long-term partner dies can be construed either way. When two pet ducks, named Kohl and Harper, were split up after the death of one, researchers said they saw grief-like behavior.
However, Kenn Kaufman, a bird expert, noted that what looks like mourning may really be confusion rather than sadness. Kaufman also pointed out a case where a newly single bird found a replacement mate in less than one hour.
The science is not there to confidently say eagles, or any birds, grieve the loss of a mate.
What’s Next?
Nobody knows yet whether Shadow considers Kaydee anything more than a casual acquaintance. Even FOBBV is quick to point this out. “Whether forming a friendship or something deeper, we must trust in their present teamwork and patiently wait for a new day and a new story,” the group said in a Facebook post.
But there’s still time for that new story to develop. The nesting season for eagles in the Big Bear Valley runs from September through the next summer, with eggs typically laid beginning in January. Whether Shadow is interested enough to engage in courtship behavior with the new female remains to be seen.
Viewers anywhere can watch the developments happen in real time by following FOBBV’s live webcam.
