Big Bear bald eagle Jackie honored by community a week after her death

It has been a week since Jackie, the viral Big Bear raptor, died from a condition that caused anemia and other problems. As fans continue to reel from the eagle’s death, community members are paying tribute to her through both official and unofficial acts.

News of the famed mama bird’s death, whose life was captured by a nonstop livestream camera operated by the environmental nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, has made national headlines after she was found grounded for hours after fighting two younger eagles in mid-July.

For nearly a month, a Ventura County wildlife rehab facility, Ojai Raptor Center, provided medical care to Jackie until her death. The bird’s cause of death remains unknown, but the Ojai center said that Jackie had been suffering from ailments including large blood clots in both wings and a kidney. What caused her health problems has not yet been determined.

Now the extended eagle family is expressing love and appreciate for the beloved bird of prey.

The Ontario Tower Buzzers, the single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, have partnered with Friends of Big Bear Valley to commemorate Jackie and help further the nonprofit’s work.

A  “Fly High, Jackie” night is set for the Buzzers’ Sunday, Aug. 23 game at at ONT Field against the Inland Empire 66ers. The Buzzers will donate 50% of ticket proceeds to the Friends nonprofit.

Friends spokesperson Jenny Voisard said on Monday that the proceeds earned that evening will support camera system and equipment maintenance, its education program and conservation work. The evening will also feature other activities for children around the stadium, including an opportunity for attendees to run the bases after the game.

Other Jackie fan-created memorial sites have been appearing throughout Fawnskin – a small community in Big Bear – home of the nest of Jackie and partner Shadow. Among these homage collections is a shrine at Fawn Park, owned by Mike Wayman.

The park entrance has a white sign attached to a chain-linked gate, written in black, blue and red marker: “Official Jackie Memorial.”

Friends spokesperson Jenny Voisard said the tribute set up at Fawn Park is not affiliated with the Friends of Big Bear Valley.

“I’m here with the park as a unity feature for everybody to have a place to unify about Jackie and the eagle habitat,” Wayman said Monday.

The Jackie monument at Fawn Park stands on a stage with a prominent wooden eagle sculpture, surrounded by a bounty of flowers, letters and drawings. Wayman said the remembrance will be continually upgraded and will be free to the public. He also plans to rename the site Fawnskin Freedom Park, which is meant to symbolize freedom and unify the community, Wayman said.

Wayman contends that his park is the “right spot” for a Jackie memorial.

“I know there are other groups out there that would like to see it somewhere else. Everybody has ideas. We all do,” Wayman said, “I just did it. I didn’t go to a board meeting. I didn’t have a vote.”

Voisard said that Friends is in “the process of discussing a potential memorial for Jackie with local agencies,” but has “nothing to report yet.”

Also, the Ojai Raptor Center commented Monday on social media: “Thank you so much for the incredible outpouring of support for our team. We are still working our way through all of the mail we have received, and every card, note, letter, and drawing means so much to us.”

Cards, letters, flowers and other gestures honoring Jackie and her care team can be sent to:

Friends of Big Bear ValleyP.O. Box 422Fawnskin, CA 92333

And

Fawn Park39226 N. Shore Dr.Fawnskin, CA 92333

And

Ojai Raptor CenterP.O. Box 182Oak View, CA 93022