Jackie the Bald Eagle, Who Captured Hearts Around the World Via Livestream, Has Died After Battling a Mysterious Illness
A raptor center in California had been caring for the animal since mid-July, after she had an altercation with two young eagles. But she had probably been sick long before then
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Jackie, an internet-famous bald eagle who captured the hearts of millions of viewers, has died of a mysterious illness. The 14-year-old bird had been receiving treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center in California.
“It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519”—Jackie’s wildlife intake number—“passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care,” the center wrote in a social media post on August 10.
“Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.”
Jackie hatched in the spring of 2012 in Big Bear Valley, California, and she’s widely believed to be the first bald eagle chick ever born there. Three years later, the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) installed a camera near her parents’ nest so the public could keep tabs on the couple. Unbeknownst to the organization, however, the pair had already fled the coop and built a different nest nearby.
Jackie eventually took over the spotlighted nest with her mate at the time, Mr. B. But in 2018, a new mate named Shadow swooped in. Viewers have been following the newer couple’s trials and tribulations, including laying eggs and raising chicks, ever since. The animals’ fame soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, when people who were social distancing found comfort in the couple’s livestreamed lives.
However, experts noticed in recent weeks that Jackie’s health was deteriorating. Last month, an adult eagle—later determined to be Jackie—was spotted in a ground fight with two young eagles, although cell phone footage showed that the older bird was able to fend them off. However, she could not fly. She was rescued by Los Angeles County Parks San Dimas Raptor Rescue and taken to the Ojai Raptor Center.
“The adult eagle that we picked up was sick, very sick,” a San Dimas Raptor Rescue official told KCAL News’ Dean Fioresi at the time. “There were no physical injuries, so we were able to do a quick assessment; look at her wings and stuff like that. There was nothing obvious, but she was very skinny and underweight.”
Jackie had probably been ill for a while before she was found, said Chris Eksteen, the Ojai Raptor Center’s executive director, in a video posted on social media on July 31.
The two young eagles that attacked her were likely unaware of her weakened state, Bill Bowerman, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Maryland, tells the New York Times’ Shawn Hubler and Alexandra E. Petri. They were probably “hungry and thought that Jackie was sitting on the shoreline with a fish.”
She underwent intense testing, including a CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy, and was diagnosed with severe anemia, for which she had a blood transfusion, reports Lila Seidman for the Los Angeles Times. Still, experts could not determine what had made her critically ill.
Jackie’s anemia worsened throughout the end of July, and on August 9, the raptor center stated that the eagle was in an unstable condition. In the announcement of her death, staff wrote: “Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists.”
Quick fact: Why are bald eagles “bald?”
Only adults are “bald,” or have heads covered in white feathers. They also have white tails and brown bodies and wings. This coloration is a sign of sexual maturity, as until around age 5, the birds have darker heads and tails.
Comments on social media show that people all over the world will remember Jackie.
“She lived an incredible life and inspired many,” Facebook user Jordan Markowski wrote, per the LA Times. “Who knows how many people have and will go on to do great things to preserve and protect wild spaces and creatures because of her.”
She’s already made a big impact. Last month, FOBBV announced that it raised $10 million in donations to protect Jackie and Shadow’s habitat from being converted into a luxury housing development.
“We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow’s wellbeing along with nature,” said FOBBV spokesperson Jenny Voisard in a statement about the donation milestone.
Jackie’s remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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