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Banded Visitor Named Kaydee Appears to Pair With Big Bear Eagle Shadow

Banding links the visitor to the Prado Basin, leaving future breeding prospects uncertain because young eagles often struggle at first.

Overview

  • Jackie, Shadow’s longtime mate, died after weeks of treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center and pathologists completed a necropsy though some toxicology tests and federal review are still pending.
  • Friends of Big Bear Valley identified KD1 by leg bands, named the subadult Kaydee, and confirmed the bird was banded in the Prado Basin in April 2022.
  • Raptor biologist Pete Bloom said it is "highly likely" Kaydee and Shadow will form a pair by the December nesting season based on their current perching, calling, and nest‑preparation behavior.
  • The nonprofit’s livestream has captured the pairing behavior and driven a strong public response that ranges from joy to grief, and organizers have set an official memorial for Jackie on October 3.
  • Experts caution that Kaydee is a subadult and may make rearing mistakes, so observers should watch the December–January nesting season to see if the pair attempts and succeeds at raising young.