For the past two days, Los Angeles media has been extensively covering the death of a local celebrity. This time, however, the focus is not a Hollywood icon but Jackie, the beloved bald eagle. Jackie, who resided with her partner Shadow in a nest overlooking the Big Bear mountain community, passed away on Monday after spending several weeks in intensive care.
For ten years, a Big Bear webcam has streamed the daily life of Jackie and Shadow, captivating viewers across the globe. The channel has amassed 822,000 YouTube subscribers and over a million Facebook followers. Fans witnessed Jackie’s life in the nest, the tragic loss of her previous eaglets, and the time when Shadow forcefully ousted Jackie’s former partner. Now, many are keenly observing to see if Shadow has already found a new partner, seemingly bypassing any mourning period.
Los Angeles news outlets such as KNBC, KTLA, and others reported on the widespread support for Jackie Monday night and into Tuesday. The reaction from animal enthusiasts both in California and around the world is nearly as profound as that following the death of mountain lion P-22, who was euthanized in 2022 and has since been commemorated with an annual festival and a line of merchandise benefiting the parks department.
Among Jackie’s admirers is actress Holly Robinson Peete, who expressed, “She was regal, fierce, and deeply devoted. Jackie made millions of us care about one nest in a tree like it was our own backyard.”
California senator Adam Schiff also offered his condolences, stating, “Devastated to learn of the passing of California’s pride, Jackie, earlier today. Any visitor to my Washington office in the past year knows our office proudly showed the livestream of Jackie’s nest showing alongside C-SPAN and national news.”
Jackie, estimated to be around 14 years old, had recently hatched two eaglets named Sandy and Luna, who have already left the nest after being born in April. Following a confrontation with younger eagles in July, Jackie was found grounded and may have already been unwell, as per veterinarians. She was also suffering from anemia.
The Ojai Raptor Center issued a statement saying, “Throughout her time at Ojai Raptor Center, every decision was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and our responsibility to do what was in her best interest. Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.”
Is a feature film or documentary chronicling Jackie’s life and relationships on the horizon?
