Life goes on, and for Shadow – the former partner of the bald eagle named Jackie who sadly passed earlier this year – he may have found a new mate.
Big Bear Lake, located in California, has been home to two certifiable celebrities over the past couple of years: Jackie and Shadow. People on the internet fell in love with the pair of bald eagles after Friends of Big Bear Valley set up a nature camera facing towards their nest. The nonprofit is the one that set up the camera on the nest that Jackie and Shadow utilized to birth six eaglets in the past couple of years.
This past April, they welcomed what would become their last two eaglets together: Sandy and Luna.
It wasn’t too long after Sandy and Luna came into the world that Jackie went missing.
The mother of the two eaglets – and partner of Shadow – went missing in early July. When Jackie was eventually found, she was in terrible shape after she got into a spar with two younger baldies. A rehab facility known as the Ojai Raptor Center took the famous bird in, and they initially let the public know that Jackie – whom they referred to as Patient 26-519 – was in critical condition.
The baldie was suffering from severe anemia and inflammation of her kidneys. They referred to Jackie’s health as a “very serious case,” and did all they could to stabilize the bald eagle. Despite all of their best efforts, and over three straight weeks of intensive care, the rehab facility could not get Jackie’s health under control, and she sadly passed away this past August.
Though fans of Jackie and Shadow were mourning the loss of the mother, they kept a close eye on Shadow, who continued to guard the nest and wait for his mate to return. Bald eagles mate for life, in case you didn’t know, and the male waited as long as he could for his other half to return.
But it’s usually late December and early January when male bald eagles’ hormones kick in, and so it’s not a surprise that Shadow has been spotted in the Big Bear Valley area with another bald eagle. It’s name is KD1, or Kaydee, and the female bald eagle has been seen alongside Shadow taking care of territory. Friends of Big Bear Valley presume this could be the start of a potential mutual bond.
There’s even been video of the same baldie (at least it looks like the same one) visiting the nest that used to belong to Jackie and Shadow. So as hard as it might be to accept, it appears that Shadow has moved on, and is partnering with another female baldie named Kaydee.
Here’s a look at the new Big Bear Valley bald eagle couple:
“While we have been content lately listening to the sounds of the valley, through the fog and drizzly mist, we spotted two familiar eagles on the Lookout Snag. They spent some time together gazing over the hazy vista, seemingly content to sway in the breeze before gliding away.
Although it is likely this pair is Shadow and Kaydee, we cannot confirm for sure. What we do know is that they have been spotted around the lake this week perching together.”
