Jackie and Shadow, a pair of bald eagles in the San Bernardino National Forest, have captivated millions of viewers via their nest camera overlooking Big Bear Lake. Since 2018, their dedication to the nesting process has drawn significant public attention to the structure they call home. This treetop residence serves as a functional nursery for their young and is an impressive example of avian architecture. Public interest naturally extends to the measurable size and physical characteristics of this structure.
The Specific Dimensions of the Nest
The bald eagle nest is located 145 feet above the ground in a sturdy Jeffrey pine tree. Its size is a testament to the pair’s years of continuous building and reinforcement. Recent measurements place the structure at over six feet across in diameter. This horizontal span helps to anchor the nest securely within the tree’s powerful branches.
The depth, or vertical height, of the nest reaches approximately six feet. This height results from the eagles adding new layers of material each year they return to the site. This substantial size provides a stable, elevated platform for incubation and the raising of their eaglets.
Materials, Weight, and Annual Growth
The nest is constructed primarily from large, interlocking wooden sticks and branches that form the foundational support and outer walls. Shadow often brings in pieces of wood, while Jackie guides placement to ensure structural integrity. This rough exterior framework is then lined with finer, softer materials to create a comfortable, insulated central “nest bowl” for the eggs.
Jackie and Shadow line the interior with items like pine needles, grasses, and reeds gathered from the nearby lake. The continuous addition of new sticks and debris means the nest gains significant mass over time. While the exact weight of this specific Big Bear nest is not known, large, established bald eagle nests can easily weigh over 1,000 pounds, with some reaching one to two tons.
The structure’s growth is an annual process known as accretion, where the eagles continually bring in fresh material, causing the dimensions and weight to increase each season. This ensures the nest remains a robust, solid platform, capable of withstanding the heavy winds and snowfall common to the mountain environment. They also engage in “pancaking,” which involves lying down to test the nest and push sticks out of the way to form the bowl shape for the upcoming eggs.