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After Jackie’s death, Shadow was filmed sharing the Big Bear nest with another eagle: a younger, lavender-banded bird identified as KD1. The sighting is real, but it does not yet prove that Shadow has found a new mate.
What Shadow was seen doing
Viewers who followed Jackie and Shadow’s long-running Big Bear nest watched an unexpected scene unfold in August 2026: Shadow and another eagle were together at the nest. ABC News reported that they spent hours there on August 15.
The appearance came shortly after Jackie died on August 10, following more than three weeks of care at Ojai Raptor Center. Reports said KD1 had begun appearing around the period of Jackie’s hospitalization and was returning repeatedly.
Who is the eagle identified as KD1?
KD1 can be recognized by a lavender leg band marked “KD1.” The Los Angeles Times reported on August 14 that the Orange County Water District banded the eagle in April 2022 at Prado Basin, roughly 70 miles from Big Bear. That report described KD1 as 4½ years old.
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The reporting closest to the first sightings did not establish KD1’s sex with certainty. It is therefore too early to describe the bird definitively as female—or to call it Shadow’s mate.
Does KD1 mean Shadow has a new mate?
Not yet. Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit associated with the nest, has treated the sighting as an intriguing possibility rather than a confirmed pairing.
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“Is this a new bond forming between these 2? Well, it could be and it may not be, only time will tell. We can only observe and see what takes place once breeding season is upon us, which will not be until later this fall/winter season,” the group said in a statement quoted by KESQ on August 13, 2026.
The nonprofit added that it was “happy to see Shadow has some company out there in the habitat.” Spending time at a nest can be significant, but proximity alone cannot establish why KD1 is visiting, whether the two birds will pair, or whether breeding will follow.
Why the timing matters
Jackie’s death changed the context for every new appearance at the nest. KD1’s repeat visits and the hours-long August 15 encounter naturally prompted viewers to wonder whether a new bond was forming. The clearest answer available now is observational: Shadow has been seen with KD1, while the relationship remains unknown.
Friends of Big Bear Valley pointed to the later fall and winter breeding season as the period when the birds’ behavior may become easier to interpret. Until then, claims that Shadow has replaced Jackie or that KD1 is already a mate go beyond the evidence reported by the nonprofit and news outlets.
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How to watch the Big Bear eagles responsibly
The public eagle cam is the most direct way to follow this nest without entering the birds’ habitat. Visit Big Bear also identifies designated public viewing areas for people who want to watch wild eagles from a safe distance.
- The nest-area forest is seasonally closed during eagle season to protect the birds.
- Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, even from designated viewing locations.
- Binoculars can help with distant viewing from permitted public areas, but they cannot ensure a sighting.
- Do not attempt to locate, approach, or access the nest.
For this particular pair of eagles, the livestream offers a close view while avoiding the disturbance that can come from visitors trying to get nearer.
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What is known—and what is not
| Question | What current reporting establishes |
|---|---|
| Who is with Shadow? | An eagle identified by its lavender “KD1” band. |
| When was Jackie’s death reported? | August 10, 2026, after more than three weeks of care. |
| Were Shadow and KD1 together? | Yes. Reports described joint time at the nest, including hours together on August 15. |
| Is KD1 Shadow’s new mate? | Not confirmed. |
| Is KD1’s sex known definitively? | Not in the reports covering the first sightings. |
| Why does KD1 visit? | The available reports do not establish the bird’s motive. |
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