Big Bear bald eagle Jackie, made famous by a 24/7 webcast operated by the environmental nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, died in the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 10.
She died away from her nest and apart from her eaglets and mate. But the beloved bird of prey was never alone.
People from across several continents tuned in to the livestream by phone or television, elevating the raptor to celebrity status and weaving the happenings at a nest atop a pine tree into the daily ritual of people’s lives. For nearly a month, a congregation of virtual bird watchers shifted their attention from the nest to a Ventura-based wildlife center that was caring for Jackie after she was found grounded in mid-July following a fight with two other young adult eagles.
Ojai Raptor Center, the rescue and rehab site administering medical care for Jackie, updated its Facebook page on Monday, saying the cherished raptor had “passed away.” A cause of death was not given.
“Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit,” the Ojai post reads.
Jackie’s remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the Ojai facility.
“We are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results,” the Ojai post says.
The Friends group confirmed the news on their social media channels.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts to bring you the latest update from Ojai Raptor Center. Please be kind to yourself, to others, to the FOBBV team and to those at the Ojai Raptor Center. Soar free, Jackie,” the Friends post reads.
Jackie’s medical care yielded promising uptrends and troubling downturns.
Weeks earlier, Jackie underwent a successful, late-night blood transfusion. The wildlife center called the procedure “life-saving.”
On Sunday, Aug. 9, Ojai update reported that Jackie remained “critically ill,” with low levels of packed cell volume — the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream.
Jackie’s fanbase stretches across the globe. Since the first installation in October 2015 and a second in 2021, Friends of Big Bear Valley’s social media has exploded, with approximately 2.4 million followers, including over 1 million on its main Facebook page and close to 400,000 in a private Facebook group. It’s typical that each social media post shared by FBBV rakes in thousands of comments, likes and shares.
The late Friends executive director, Sandy Steers, said that broadcasting the daily lives of bald eagles was part of the nonprofit’s vision to raise environmental awareness.
“Protecting and conserving Jackie and Shadow’s unique and irreplaceable habitat through monitoring, education and advocacy and also helping humans connect with nature,” Steers said by email in January.
And for over 10 years, the nest has garnered millions of eyes.
Jackie was born in 2012 to Ricky and Lucy, two Big Bear eagles named by the U.S. National Forest Service. She fledged from the nest that summer. When Friends group installed its first livestream camera, the nest was empty. In fall 2016, an adult female began visiting the nesting site with the camera. The group concluded she was roughly Jackie’s age and had feather patterns similar to Jackie’s before fledging in 2012.
“We believe she stayed in Big Bear,” Friends of Big Bear Valley stated on its website. Jackie later moved into the nest, mated with a previous partner, “Mr. B,” and raised eaglets in 2018. Shadow arrived later that year, and Mr. B left the area.
Since then, Jackie and Shadow have continued to lay eggs and raise eaglets.
This year’s 2026 eaglets, Sandy and Luna, have flown from the nest and were last seen on July 23, Friends reports.
For nearly a month, an extended eagle family from across the globe held their breath. Many hoped for a reunion with her lifelong mate, Shadow.
Now a community says goodbye.
“It was wonderful to have the opportunity of following both Jackie and Shadow, such beautiful eagles. Nature has a way of letting go. Fly high above the Big Bear area, Jackie; you will always be remembered,” Ros Willis commented on the Friends of Big Bear Valley Monday post.
Another comment made by Jen Coolidge said, “Jackie, you are and forever will be one of the biggest Wildlife stories ever told. Thank you for allowing us all to love you, your family and be a part of your journey through nest cameras.”
This story is developing. Please check back later for more Jackie coverage.