Bald eagles Shadow and KD1 have begun nesting together at Big Bear Lake. This new pairing follows the recent death of Shadow's long-time mate, Jackie.
KD1's 70-mile journey from the Prado Basin
The arrival of KD1 at Big Bear Lake represents a significant geographical shift for the young raptor. According to a Wednesday video featuring background on the bird, KD1 hatched in 2022 within the Prado Basin along the Santa Ana River in Riverside County. Jenna Carpenter, a district wildlife biologist and raptor expert, noted that the Big Bear Lake nest where Shadow resides is located approximately 70 miles from that birth territory.
While most raptors generally remain within 50 to 100 miles of where they hatched, KD1's presence at Big Bear Lake suggests a successful expansion of her range. To facilitate scientific study, the water district placed an identification band on KD1 in April 2022. Based on her physical size, Jenna Carpenter indicated that KD1 is likely a female.
The National Eagle Repository and the fight for Jackie's remains
The transition to a new partner comes amid a period of mourning for the community. Jackie spent several weeks receiving treatment at the Ojai center before her passing, after which her remains were transferred to the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository in Colorado. This federal facility is tasked with the evaluation, storage, and distribution of eagle parts and feathers to members of federally recognized Native American tribes.
As reported in the source, this legal process has sparked a divide among the eagle's followers. Some social media users have voiced opposition to the federal law, advocating instead for Jackie's remains to be returned to the Big Bear area. Despite these pleas, a post from the Friends of Big Bear Valley group stated that there are currently no plans to organize a public gathering for Jackie.
Why the December breeding window remains the key date
Although Shadow and KD1 were spotted nesting together on Thursday, August 13, 2026, this does not yet signal the start of a new brood. Jenna Carpenter explained that KD1 is nearly five years old, which is the typical breeding age for eagles. However, the current timing falls outside the natural reproductive cycle for the species.
According to the report, the eagles are currently in a period of rest. The biological drive for mating and egg-laying typically does not peak until much closer to December or January. Until that window opens, the pairing of Shadow and KD1 remains a social bond rather than a reproductive one.
Who were the two eagles that attacked Jackie?
While the community has welcomed KD1, there remains a lingering mystery regarding the events that led to Jackie's decline. Jenny Voisard, a spokesperson for Friends of Big Bear Valley, clarified in a Friday text message that KD1 was not one of the two eagles that fought Jackie. That violent encounter left Jackie unable to fly, necessitating her rescue and subsequent medical treatment.
The identity of those two aggressive eagles remains unknown, and the source provides no further details on whether they are still in the Big Bear Lake area. This leaves a critical gap in the narrative: it is unclear if the attackers were territorial rivals or if the conflict was a random occurrence of nature.
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