The nest cam lost Jackie

Jackie, the female half of Big Bear Valley's most watched eagle pair, died this year of a medical condition rehabbers could not treat. Millions of viewers had followed her.

“Tragedy struck the beloved pair of bald eagles on the Big Bear Valley nesting cameras this year”

Nature moves on

Shadow likely felt the loss in his own way. But eagles do not grieve on a human schedule, and a new bird has since turned up in his territory.

“the way of nature is also to move on”

Meet KD1, or Kaydee

She is a banded bald eagle born in Southern California. Her name comes straight off the band around her leg, made official by Friends of Big Bear Valley.

She arrived days after

Kaydee showed up in the habitat around August 6 and first approached Shadow on August 10, a few hours after Jackie passed. She had nothing to do with Jackie's death.

Young, and still browning

Kaydee is about 4 and a half; Shadow is around 12. Look closely and you can spot brown juvenile feathers on her head. Officials have not confirmed she is female, though her size and behavior suggest it.

“birds have no concept of "age-gap" romances”

Sticks and chortling

The two have been spending time in the nest together, rearranging sticks and calling back and forth. A biologist who helped band her sees classic pair-bonding behavior.

Late fall tells the story

Bald eagle nesting season starts in late fall or early winter. That is when viewers will know whether "Shaydee" is real or just a friendship.

“as is the case with any headline-worthy romance, we'll have to wait and see”