Jackie, the internet-famous bald eagle injured earlier this year, is holding on. But she’s also putting up a fight.
According to the Ojai Raptor Center, 26-519 remains in stable but critical condition. She is receiving round-the-clock care while vets hunt for the root cause of her illness. It’s not easy. The situation is complex.
There were good signs recently. After a blood transfusion helped stabilize her, she hit a setback on July 25 when her blood values dropped again. Then, just as quickly, she bounced back. She’s eating on her own now. Her alertness is up. And according to the center, she’s become “much more feisty during feedings.” That’s not a detail to ignore. Feisty means energy. Energy means hope.
Her packed cell volume (PCV)—a measure of red blood cell percentage—is climbing. It sat at a dismal 8 percent before July 25. By July 27, it had doubled to 16 percent. Still below normal, yes. But the team calls it encouraging.
“Despite extensive diagnostic testing… we still do not have a definitive diagnosis.”
No definitive diagnosis yet. The vets are adjusting treatment as new info comes in. Meanwhile, the world watches.
The Mystery of the Sub-Adult Eagle
While Jackie fights for her life, a subplot is playing out in Big Bear Valley. A sub-adult eagle has been spotted near the habitat of Jackie and her mate, Shadow.
Is this bird the one who attacked Jackie? Probably. Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBN) is monitoring him closely. Dr. Peter Sharpe, a bald eagle expert, notes this male is about 3.5 years old Mature bald eagles hit age five. Some rare birds mate at four. But Sharpe thinks it’s too early for this guy to be looking for a nest or a partner.
Shadow has been defensive. He’s been watching this intruder for days. And this year’s chicks, Sandy and Luna, have been in the nest. Their voices have been heard around the area, but they haven’t shown up on the live cam since July 23.
Could they be Sandy and Luna? Maybe. Or maybe just another young eagle hanging around. There are plenty of them in the area right now.
“If Sandy and Luna have indeed left… their timing is completely normal.”
Previous eaglets at the Big Bear nest usually disperse about four weeks after fledging. Time will tell. We can only observe.
A Roller Coaster Nesting Season
This isn’t just any eagle pair. Jackie and Shadow have captivated millions with their life in the San Bernardino National Forest. Their story has been a mix of tragedy and triumph.
Two of their eggs were crushed by ravens in January. So, they laid two new ones. These hatched. Chick 1 came out on April 4 at 9:33 p.m. PDT. Chick 2 followed the next morning at 8:30 a.m. They were named Sandy and Luna in May.
But this pair has seen it all. They bonded in 2018. They raised chicks in 2019. Then in 2022. Then nothing. No hatchlings in 2023 or 2024. The hatch rate for eagle eggs hovers around 50 percent. Jackie and Shadow have already beaten the odds at least twice.
What Happens After Fledging?
Eaglets typically stay in the nest for 10 to 14 weeks. It’s a dangerous time. Before they leave, they face threats from hawks, ravens, owls, and other eagles. Bad weather can kill them too. In 2025, a massive March snowstorm dumped two feet of snow on the Big Bear nest. Winds battered it. One chick didn’t survive. The two who did were named Sunny and Gizmo, chosen from 54,000 fan submissions.
Of all eaglets, only about 70 percent survive the fledgling stage. The threat doesn’t end in the sky. Cars are a major killer. Young eagles often scavenge roadkill, getting hit by traffic while learning to hunt.
When they finally take flight—usually flattening their wings and testing feathers capable of lift—where do they go? Southern California fledglings have been spotted as far south as Baja and as far north as British Columbia. Some even make it to Yellowstone.
FOBBV doesn’t tag their eagles. Once those wings leave the nest, we lose track. They are on their own.
How Can You Help?
Jackie is being treated at the Ojai Raptor Center. You can support her recovery by donating to their Bald Eagle Recovery Campaign.
The community around Big Bear is also fighting to keep the habitat intact. Friends of Big Bear Valley recently hit a massive goal. They raised $10 million to buy land around Big Bear Lake in the mountains. A huge chunk of that—$5.5 million—came from Anna and Greg Brockman. Greg is OpenAI’s co-founder and president.
Before that donation, over 25,000 small contributions had covered about half the cost. It was a grassroots effort backed by tech money.
FOBBV accepts donations for their conservation work too.
The Open End
Jackie is feisty. Her blood counts are rising. But she’s still critically ill. The diagnosis is still a mystery.
Sandy and Luna might have left. They might be flying somewhere we can’t see them. Or they might be hiding in the high branches, waiting.
Viewers can watch the livestream from FOBBV. It’s the only window into what happens next. The nest is active. The parents are watching. The sub-adult is circling. And Jackie is fighting.
For now, that’s enough.
