An unexpected visitor has appeared at the famous Big Bear Valley bald eagle nest, raising fresh questions about the birds moving through the territory as another nesting season approaches. The unidentified adult eagle was spotted on October 27, 2026, interacting with the nest in a way that caught the attention of viewers following the live cameras.

But does the visit signal a change for Shadow and Kaydee, the two eagles increasingly seen together since Jackie’s death? The available observations offer a more measured picture of what is happening in the valley, where familiar residents and visiting eagles continue to share the landscape.

Unknown Bald Eagle Visits Big Bear Valley Nest on October 27

Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the organisation operating the nest cameras, documented the unidentified bald eagle during the late morning of October 27. Rather than identifying the bird as a new resident, the organisation described it in its Eagle Log as a “nest guest.”

During the visit, the eagle moved sticks, preened its feathers and performed a vigorous “rouse”—a movement in which a bird shakes its feathers. FOBBV explained that this behaviour can help rearrange feathers, remove debris or regulate temperature.

Although the bird interacted with the nest, its identity and sex remain unknown. The organisation has not suggested that the visitor is Shadow’s potential new mate, nor has it reported evidence that the eagle has displaced an established resident.

Several explanations remain possible. The bird could have been passing through, checking the territory, searching for food or using the established nest as a secure place to land. FOBBV also noted that Big Bear Lake has an abundance of fish, which could attract visiting eagles.

The distinction matters: an eagle landing at a nest and moving sticks does not, by itself, establish that it intends to stay or breed there.

Jackie’s Big Bear legacy
Jackie’s death remains important context for understanding why Shadow and Kaydee’s developing association is receiving so much attention. Readers can revisit our Jackie Big Bear bald eagle report for the earlier story.

Shadow and Kaydee Continue Spending Time Together

The latest visitor arrived amid a series of observations involving Shadow and Kaydee, whose association has become a central focus of the Big Bear Valley cameras since Jackie’s death.

On October 20, FOBBV reported that the two eagles flew together and landed on the Lookout Snag. They vocalised to each other and appeared to be working together to defend the territory. Subsequent observations again showed them flying together and remaining close to one another.

FOBBV cautiously suggested that their behaviour “may be” part of the next steps towards establishing a mutual bond. The wording stops short of confirming that they have become a breeding pair.

Earlier in October, the organisation reported that Shadow and Kaydee had spent time together overnight in the Roost Tree before visiting other parts of the territory. On October 9, Kaydee joined Shadow on the Lookout Snag. When she left for the day, Shadow followed.

FOBBV’s October 16 update offered a further indication of their developing relationship, stating that Shadow and Kaydee were continuing to bond with each other. The organisation also expressed hope that both would remain healthy following the revelations about Jackie’s illness.

These observations provide important context for the October 27 sighting. The unidentified eagle is another visitor documented around the nest, not evidence that Shadow and Kaydee’s association has ended.

October 24 Sightings Showed More Eagles Around the Territory

The October 27 visitor was not the only unidentified eagle recorded during the recent autumn period.

On October 24, FOBBV reported several sightings around Big Bear Valley. One visiting eagle appeared at the nest early in the morning, while another was observed elsewhere in the area.

Later, an eagle whose identity was uncertain appeared on the Lookout Snag, where Shadow also arrived. The two vocalised before eventually flying away. FOBBV could not establish whether the unidentified bird in that encounter was Kaydee.

Taken together, the observations show that multiple bald eagles have been moving through and using different parts of the territory during the autumn transition.

For viewers watching the live cameras, that activity can create questions about which birds are residents, which are passing through and whether an unfamiliar appearance signals a change in the established territory. The available reports do not support treating every visiting eagle as a potential mate or permanent occupant.

Why Shadow and Kaydee May Be Less Visible During Autumn

Changes in camera appearances do not necessarily mean that an eagle has abandoned the territory.

In its October 12 Eagle Log, FOBBV explained that Shadow and Kaydee had been less visible during several cold and wet days. Eagles tend to reduce flight activity in inclement weather and conserve energy by seeking shelter.

The nest itself is only one part of the surrounding habitat. Eagles can perch in other trees, travel through the valley, hunt or rest beyond the camera’s view.

This seasonal context is important when interpreting periods without sightings. An eagle that is absent from the nest camera may still be nearby, and a new visitor may appear without indicating a permanent change in the territory.

Jackie’s Death and the Findings Behind Her Illness

The recent developments follow the death of Jackie, Shadow’s long-term mate and one of the most recognisable bald eagles associated with the Big Bear livestream.

Jackie died on August 10, 2026, after receiving intensive treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center. Her death followed weeks of serious illness after she was rescued and transferred for veterinary care.

In October, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) released the results of her necropsy and additional diagnostic testing, providing a clearer explanation of what happened.

According to CDFW, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was the primary underlying cause of Jackie’s decline. Veterinary pathologists found an uncommon form of the disease involving a severe ulcer in her gizzard. The ulcer caused persistent internal bleeding, severe anaemia and secondary bacterial sepsis.

Testing also detected brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, in Jackie’s liver, alongside other persistent environmental contaminants. However, CDFW stated that the necropsy did not show the uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with anticoagulant rodenticide exposure. The department therefore did not identify brodifacoum as the primary cause of her illness or death.

Jackie tested negative for West Nile virus. Heavy-metal levels, including lead, were within acceptable limits and were not associated with the progression of her disease.

CDFW also reported no camera evidence that Shadow or the eaglets were sick.

FOBBV addressed the findings in its October 16 Eagle Log update, explaining that Jackie had experienced a complex case of avian influenza and that the rodenticide and other chemicals found in her body were contributing factors rather than the primary cause.

Who Is Kaydee, the Eagle Spending Time With Shadow?

Kaydee was previously known as KD1, a banded bald eagle observed around Big Bear Valley. FOBBV eventually gave her the name Kaydee because she had remained in the area for an extended period.

At the time, the organisation said her sex had not been definitively confirmed, although its observations led it to lean towards identifying the eagle as female.

Since Jackie’s death, Kaydee has spent increasing amounts of time with Shadow. Their shared flights, vocalisations and proximity have attracted attention, but FOBBV has continued to describe what it observes rather than making a definitive declaration about their breeding status.

Its October 20 update said their behaviour “may” represent steps towards establishing a mutual bond, while the October 16 entry described them as continuing to bond.

For now, the evidence supports a developing association. Whether it becomes a breeding partnership should become clearer as the next nesting season approaches.

The Big Bear Nest’s History Began Before Jackie and Shadow

The famous nest has a history that stretches back before Jackie and Shadow became its best-known occupants.

According to FOBBV’s historical account, Jackie’s parents, Lucy and Ricky, built the nest during the 2012–2013 nesting season after losing their previous nest in a dead tree during a strong storm.

They constructed the replacement in a nearby, stronger tree approximately 50 feet from the location where Jackie had been raised. Lucy and Ricky later abandoned that nest and built another nearby during the 2015–2016 season.

At the beginning of the 2016–2017 nesting season, Lucy and Ricky disappeared. Their fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

A juvenile female subsequently began spending time around their former nesting area. Experts later believed that this eagle was Jackie.

Jackie eventually occupied the nest with her first known partner, Mr. B, before pairing with Shadow. Together, Jackie and Shadow became the pair most closely associated with the Big Bear livestream.

In its October 2 remembrance, FOBBV said Jackie was believed to be the first bald eagle to hatch in Big Bear. The organisation reported that she laid 25 eggs during her life, of which 10 hatched and seven eaglets eventually fledged.

Sandy and Luna Fledged Before the Autumn Changes

The 2026 nesting season had already moved into a new phase before Jackie’s death.

Shadow and Jackie’s two chicks, Sandy and Luna, fledged during the summer. They spent their early development in the nest before exploring nearby branches and eventually taking their first flights.

By autumn, attention had shifted from raising the eaglets to observing the adults and following the territory’s transition towards another nesting season.

That change helps explain the interest in Shadow and Kaydee’s behaviour and the appearance of unfamiliar eagles. The annual cycle is moving forward, but it remains too early to determine with certainty which birds will occupy the nest during the next breeding season.

What the October 27 Eagle Visit Means for Shadow and Kaydee

The most important distinction is that the October 27 bird remains an unidentified visitor. FOBBV has not given it a name or described it as a permanent resident. Its possible reasons for stopping at the nest include passing through, looking for food or using the structure as a secure landing place.

There is also no evidence that the visitor was Kaydee, that it displaced Shadow or that it has established a relationship with another eagle in the territory.

Meanwhile, Shadow and Kaydee’s coordinated flights, vocalisations, close proximity and continued activity have been documented throughout October. FOBBV has described their bond as developing without confirming that they have definitively become a breeding pair.

As nesting season approaches, further observations of nest maintenance, sustained pair behaviour and reproductive activity may help clarify which eagles intend to remain.

Conclusion

The unidentified bald eagle’s October 27 visit adds another moment to an active autumn at Big Bear Valley’s famous nest, but it does not establish that the territory has a new resident or that Shadow and Kaydee’s relationship has changed.

For now, the documented evidence points to several eagles moving through the area, while Shadow and Kaydee continue spending time together. Their eventual status as a breeding pair remains uncertain, and the next nesting season may provide a clearer picture of what comes next.

The Friends of Big Bear Valley cameras continue to offer viewers a window into these changing patterns, with each new observation adding context to the lives of the eagles.

Another viral animal story
Big Bear’s live eagle cameras are another example of wildlife stories becoming major online viewing events. For a very different viral animal story, readers can explore our Sherman tortoise BART viral story.

Source and Research Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on research of the sources provided below, including Friends of Big Bear Valley’s Eagle Log, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s findings and the listed news reports. It reflects information available from those sources as of October 28, 2026 and does not imply independent verification beyond the material reviewed. Wildlife behaviour, eagle identification and relationships between individual birds may be clarified by future observations.

Sources

• Friends of Big Bear Valley: Eagle Log
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Necropsy Provides New Information About Jackie
• Popular Science: Unknown Bald Eagle Spotted on Shadow’s Nest
• ABC30: Meet Kaydee, the New Female Eagle Spending Time With Shadow
• LAist: Who Is the New Bald Eagle in Big Bear’s Famous Nest?
• Los Angeles Times: Shadow Has a New Eagle in Big Bear
• Los Angeles Times: Shadow Likely to Nest With New Eagle Pal

Featured Image Credit: Friends of Big Bear Valley