Shadow, the Big Bear Valley bald eagle, now has a named companion: Kaydee. The visiting female — identified by a leg band marked "KD1" — was officially named by Friends of Big Bear Valley on Aug. 19 after repeatedly appearing at Shadow's longtime nest following Jackie’s death. The pair have been seen perching, vocalizing and interacting closely; wildlife experts say any mating would likely wait until the December–January season. Fans find comfort in Kaydee’s presence while they mourn Jackie.
It's Official: Shadow the Bald Eagle's New Companion Is Named Kaydee
Shadow (left) and Kaydee appeared to touch beaks in the nest he used to share with Jackie before she got sick and later died at the Ojai Raptor Center, 170 miles from her home overlooking Big Bear Lake in Southern California.
It's official: Shadow, the well-known bald eagle of Big Bear Valley, now has a named companion — Kaydee.
How Kaydee Got Her Name
Friends of Big Bear Valley announced on Facebook on Aug. 19 that the group had taken the unusual step of officially naming the visiting female eagle Kaydee. The name comes from the leg band labeled "KD1" that wildlife officials use to identify and study eagles. Fans who first spotted the bird at Shadow and Jackie's nest earlier in August had already been calling her KD, Katie or Kaydee.
Early Encounters With Shadow
Kaydee first appeared at Shadow’s longtime nest on Aug. 10 and was first seen sharing the nest with Shadow on Aug. 13 — three days after Jackie’s death was publicly announced. Viewers watching the live cam saw the pair perch closely, touch beaks and vocalize together. Kaydee even rearranged a few sticks in the nest, prompting light-hearted comments from fans that she was "redecorating."
Over the following days they were repeatedly recorded together — perching in the same tree for hours on Aug. 14, roosting side by side on Aug. 18 and 19, and often calling together in the evening. Friends of Big Bear Valley captured moments such as Kaydee following Shadow just seconds after he left a perch, and both birds greeting the morning with loud, valley-spanning calls.
Fans React and Mourn Jackie
Kaydee's arrival has brought comfort to many fans mourning Jackie, Shadow's mate of nearly a decade who died after a recent illness. Supporters offered warm welcomes on social media: "Welcome Kaydee to the Big Bear Family," wrote one follower, while others suggested Jackie may have "sent" Kaydee to keep Shadow company. Friends of Big Bear Valley also acknowledged the community's grief, saying, "Our hearts are broken by the loss of Jackie... It will take time for all of us to get through this."
Background: Jackie, Shadow, and the Nest
Jackie and Shadow were a beloved pair, raising eaglets and weathering storms together for nearly ten years. Their story — broadcast widely via the Big Bear Lake eagle cam — includes memorable moments such as multi-egg clutches, dramatic rescues, and the joys and losses common to wild raptor families. In recent months Jackie suffered a health crisis that led to rescue and treatment; despite brief signs of improvement, her condition worsened and she was later reported deceased.
What Comes Next?
Wildlife experts note that California bald eagles typically begin mating behavior in December or January, so any potential courtship between Shadow and Kaydee would likely wait until winter. Although many eagles form long-term pair bonds, mate changes do occur. Friends of Big Bear Valley spokeswoman Jenny Voisard told USA TODAY, "He's got some time. All we can do is watch and see."
Reporter: Amanda Lee Myers of USA TODAY contributed reporting to this story.
Note: Dates and observations in this article reflect posts and livestreams from Friends of Big Bear Valley and related reporting in August and earlier months.
Shadow (left) and Kaydee are pictured in the nest he used to share with Jackie before she got sick and later died at the Ojai Raptor Center, 170 miles from her home overlooking Big Bear Lake in Southern California.
Millions of viewershave watchedJackie and her longtime mate, Shadow, raise eaglets, brave winter storms and fend off predators through the nest camera's livestream at Big Bear Lake in California. The pair have been together for nearly a decade and have shared eight eaglets.Jackie has recently faced a health crisis, drawing concern from millions of fans. Scroll to learn about their journey as mates and parents.The eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, await their first egg of 2026.(Photo Provided By Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Snow fell on the Big Bear eagle family nest on April 13, 2026, with Jackie shielding her eaglets and Shadow delivering a fish to feed the young birds.Despite showing small butencouraging signs of recovery,Jackie'sanemia has worsened, said Ojai Raptor Center, in anAug. 3, 2026 post.(Photo Provided By Friends Of Big Bear Valley)
After their Easter debut, Jackie and Shadow’s chicks are balls of fluff as they bonk each other and wobble while feeding on Tuesday, April 7, captured on the Friends of Big Bear Valley’s live eagle cam. The two eagletsfledged the nest in June.(Provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow saw their second egg of the 2026 season on Jan. 26, 2026. Sadly, the eggswere broken by ravens.Jackie's health crisis, which first emerged after she was rescued following an "altercation" with two subadult eagles on July 17, 2026, drewconcernfrom millions of fans. The belovedbald eaglewas rescued from near Dana Point Park, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, where she was "found grounded and unable to fly."(Provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley)
After abandoning their nest for over three hours, Jackie and Shadow’s eagle eggs were damaged by invading birds near Big Bear Lake.(Photo Provided By Friends Of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow’s chicks on April 5, 2026.(Provided by Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow before they welcomed their first egg of the year to the family nest in Big Bear on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.(Photo Provided By Friends Of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow switch egg-warming shifts on Feb. 2, 2024. The pair were caring for three eggs.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie rustled a few feathers as she delivered her third egg of 2024. Jackie and Shadow became the proud parents of mama eagle’s first full three-egg clutch on the night of Jan. 31, 2024.(Photo Provided By Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie laid an egg on Jan. 25, 2024, in the family nest in Big Bear Lake.(Photo Provided By Friends Of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie's head and tail feathers poke out of the mountain of snow that has accumulated on her nest in Big Bear Valley, California during a snowstorm on Feb. 25, 2023.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow are pictured in December 2022 shortly before Jackie laid her first egg of the season in January.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
An April 2022 photo shows bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow, and their eaglet Spirit, in the family’s nest in Big Bear.(Photo Provided By Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow look over their eggs on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in a nest near Big Bear Lake.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
The bald eagles Jackie and Shadow stand in their nest near Big Bear Lake on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Jackie and Shadow's babies, Simba and Cookie, are pictured shortly after their birth in April 2019. Cookie was soon after killed in a snow storm followed by freezing rain, while Simba survived and left the nest that July.(Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley)
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