Internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow's chick dies amid winter storm
One of the three viral baby bald eagles in California has died following a severe winter storm.
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the nonprofit organization streaming 24/7 live footage of bald eagles Jackie and Shadow and their eaglets on YouTube, confirmed the eaglet's death to ABC News.
"We are sad to say that one of Jackie and Shadow's chicks did not make it through the severe winter storm that brought over 2 feet of snow to the area," the nonprofit said in a statement on Saturday.
The chick was last seen alive during a feeding at 6 p.m. local time on Thursday. At this time, the cause of the chick's passing remains unknown, the nonprofit said.
Jackie and Shadow, whose home is located in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, welcomed two eaglets on March 3 and 4, and a third on March 8, according to Facebook post updates from Friends of Big Bear Valley.
"We have been able to see the chick at times, but we do not know what happened or why it passed," the FOBBV statement continued. "We do not know which chick it was because they were very close in size. Our view is still obstructed by the melting snow berm so we do not know the entirety of the situation yet."
Despite the loss, the nonprofit said Jackie and Shadow continue to care for their two surviving eaglets, taking turns feeding them as the snow begins to melt.
"Our hope is that seeing Jackie and Shadow persevere and work towards moving forward brings some comfort and peace to everyone," the statement read. "Their story is beautiful and it continues to unfold."
Their journey serves as a reminder of nature's unpredictability, the nonprofit added.
"We are just observers and cannot predict what will happen next," the statement concluded. "We are reminded again that nature is wild and unscripted. It also has the power to unite our hearts. We are thinking about Jackie and Shadow and our eagle family at this time."
Fans have been following Jackie and Shadow over the years, and in 2023, the eagle pair went viral after laying two eggs. The eggs failed to hatch at the time, but this month's appearance of three new eggs brought a new hatch watch back to the internet's spotlight.
Bald eagles, the national bird of the U.S., are no longer considered endangered, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but they remain a protected species. It is against the law to harm, kill or sell bald eagles, their nests or eggs.
