Southern California's Rare Inland Bald Eagle Nest Reflects Decades of Species Recovery

A breeding pair named Jackie and Shadow, along with eaglets Sandy and Luna, inhabit a nest 145 feet high in Big Bear Valley—a rare inland nesting site for bald eagles in Southern California. The pair's presence underscores the species' recovery since its 2007 federal delisting, following decades of population collapse driven by DDT and habitat loss. Citizen monitoring through Friends of Big Bear Valley generates behavioral data supporting wildlife management across the American West.