Jackie, half of the famous Big Bear Bald Eagle duo Jackie and Shadow, is currently still recovering and being cared for at a rehabilitation center in Ojai, California, after being found injured following an altercation with two subadult bald eagles.
But as Popular Science reports, now, thanks to the bald eagles’ fame, their habitat has been saved from developers, and the land Jackie and Shadow rely on for survival will remain intact. On Friday, Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the non-profit behind the pair’s 24/7 live cam, announced that they reached a goal of raising $10 million to purchase land around Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Large Donation Pushed Fundraiser Past its Goal
A $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman pushed the fundraiser to its goal ahead of a July 31 deadline. Greg Brockman is the co-founder and President of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Before the Brockmans’ donation, more than 25,000 donations had raised almost half of the necessary funds.
“Greg and I are grateful to all those who championed saving the home of these majestic eagles, Jackie and Shadow,” Anna Brockman said in a statement. “Like many people around the world, we love watching them be amazing partners to one another and raise their young. They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature. We are proud to be supportive. We are so appreciative of the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust and everyone who came together to preserve this incredible ecosystem, the life it will help sustain, and the forest that will be protected for generations to come.”
The land that will be purchased with the $10 million is known as Moon Camp. This stretch of land has been a target of luxury housing and marina developers for more than two decades. The land sits less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest, and borders part of the lake that is home to all of the fish that the eagles and their chicks rely on for sustenance. It also houses an undisturbed forest that supports birds, squirrels, and other animals, as well as the ash-gray indian paintbrush (Castilleja cinerea), a rare and threatened endemic plant only found here.
The Land Purchase was a Passion Project for Sandy Steers
Purchasing Moon Camp was a passion project for Sandy Steers, FOBBV’s former executive director and fierce advocate for Jackie and Shadow. Steers died on February 11 after a battle with cancer. She was a lifelong wildlife activist and helped launch the livecams back in 2015. She also served as FOBBV’s resident bald eagle expert.
Steers and the San Bernardino Mountain Land Trust negotiated a limited purchase agreement with the land’s owner, developer RCK Properties, earlier this year. “Sandy passed away right after the agreement was signed, so we’re doing this in her honor,” Jenny Voisard, media manager for FOBBV, told Popular Science earlier this year. “She put all of that on her shoulders because she wanted to save everything.”
“We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months,” Voisard said. “This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow’s well-being along with nature.”
The Good News is Tempered with Worry Over Jackie’s Recovery
While news of the fundraiser is joyful for the thousands of people who have tuned in to watch Jackie and Shadow over the years, it comes at a worrisome time for the bald eagle pair.
As ABC News reports, Jackie received a life-saving blood transfusion from another eagle but remains in critical condition despite showing encouraging signs of improvement, according to the latest update from her caregivers at the Ojai Raptor Center. The successful transfusion was made possible with the help of Spirit, the resident Bald Eagle at California Living Museum (CALM) in Bakersfield.
Testing also ruled out lead toxicosis and the presence of foreign objects like fishing hooks, lines and weights. Her kidney inflammation appears to have improved, the Center said. She also is eating well, perching and remains bright and strong. However, Jackie remains severely anemic and so far no one can figure out why, the organization Friends of Big Bear Valley said, the nonprofit that operates the eagle nest camera. “She was taken in for a CT scan; there are no obvious signs of cancer or any metals in her body,” said the organization.
The veterinary team of specialists continues working to determine the underlying cause of the bird’s illness as Jackie continues to receive intensive care. The rehabilitation team cautioned that it is still too early to predict the outcome of her treatment and recovery. “While we are encouraged by the dedication and collaboration surrounding this case, it is still too early to predict the outcome,” the update posted on Facebook said. “We know many of you are hoping for more answers, and so are we. Wildlife medicine often requires patience, and some answers simply take time.”
Meanwhile, Shadow has been performing single dad duties, caring for their 2026 eaglets, Luna and Sandy, on his own since Jackie’s rescue. The chicks will likely fully fledge in the coming weeks. Experts say that due to the incredible bond Jackie and Shadow have, it’s unlikely for him to move on so soon. He likely won’t be looking for a mate until his hormones kick in, which is estimated to be towards the end of December or early January.
—
Photo Credit: Petar Marshall / Shutterstock.com
