A beloved female bald eagle, a star of a popular live nest camera, is believed to have been found alive but injured in California's Big Bear Lake. The bird, known as Jackie, had been missing for several days from her nest, prompting concerns among her dedicated online followers. Conservation group Friends of Big Bear Valley, which operates the viral nestcam, initially reported the discovery of an injured eagle following an altercation with other birds.
According to the group's Facebook post on Sunday, observers first spotted an eagle on the ground last Thursday, followed by a 'short ground altercation with two other subadult eagles' on Friday. Mobile phone footage reportedly showed the adult eagle successfully fending off the other birds using its talons but being unable to fly a significant distance. While initially uncertain of the bird's identity, Friends of Big Bear Valley later informed Los Angeles news station KTLA5 that they now believe the rescued eagle is indeed Jackie.
Jackie, along with her partner Shadow, has gained a significant following through the Big Bear Lake bald eagle nest camera's livestream. The pair have been nesting in the area since 2016, successfully raising chicks each year. Their two most recent offspring, Sandy and Luna, hatched in early April and made their first flights approximately three weeks ago. During Jackie's disappearance, viewers observed Shadow diligently guarding the young chicks at the nest.
The injured eagle was rescued by San Dimas Raptor Rescue, a division of the Los Angeles County Parks Foundation. Images and video posted by the LA County Parks and Recreation Department showed the limping and bedraggled eagle in water, followed by post-rescue pictures of it receiving medical care at an undisclosed wildlife treatment facility. Further updates on Jackie's condition and recovery are expected as they become available.
This incident also brings renewed attention to ongoing conservation efforts in the Big Bear Lake area. Friends of Big Bear Valley and other environmental groups are actively opposing the construction of a proposed luxury housing and marina development, known as Moon Camp, on the lake's north shore. The development is adjacent to the eagle habitat and less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's nest, which the group highlights as a critical ecological corridor supporting rare plants, migrating birds, and the waterfowl and fish essential for the eagles to raise their young.