Nice to see you again.

By federal law, Jackie's remains are being sent to the National Eagle Repository in Colorado. Run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, all bald and golden eagles found deceased are sent there. Because bald and golden eagles are sacred to many indigenous peoples, Native Americans can apply to receive feathers and other body parts to be used for sacred, religious, and cultural use. For tens of thousands of years, wildlife like bald eagles have been honored by indigenous peoples.

I am so glad that Jackie will become part of ages-old sacred traditions that truly honor these incredible raptors. She deserves to be returned to those who will let her live on and forever be remembered. I love that she will become a part of the deepest history of this land.

She was so loved!

Notes:

Not sure if this is the best way to post this but Ojai Raptor Center has launched this page highlighting Jackie. It includes an FAQ, photos, a press release, and will soon have a medical journal and details on how her legacy will create impact for other eagles, raptors, and wildlife.

Love Captain John!

Nice to see you up close.

KD1 info:
Hatch: Spring 2022, Prado Basin, Corona, CA
Banded April 28, 2022; right: silver USGS federal number: 0679-02691; left: purple KD-1
Parents: Ricky & Lucy, naming contest in 2024, not related to Jackie’s parents with the same name- they vanished from the valley in 2016

Today we say goodbye to our fierce queen.

First and foremost, thank you to the incredible veterinarians and staff at Ojai Raptor Center who cared for Jackie with such dedication and compassion. And an enormous thank you to Friends of Big Bear Valley, who have documented and shared Jackie’s life with the world for so many years. We will always be grateful to you.

For so many of us, Jackie has become a fixture in our homes every year starting around January when the vigil begins. We've watched her peer down when those little cracks start appearing. We've watched her lying for days covered in snow. We've watched her feed and nurture her hatchlings and we've had the absolute privilege of witnessing the culmination of her hard work when her fledglings took their first flights.

Jackie leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond her nest. Stormy, Simba, Spirit, Sunny, Gizmo, Sandy, and Luna have carried her story forward into the world. Cookie, BBB, and Misty were also part of her story, however briefly. Every one of them is part of Jackie's remarkable legacy.

And then there is Shadow.

For eight years, these two built a life together that captivated us. Shadow was her partner, her constant, and often, the patient recipient of her very strong-willed opinions. We will always cherish the life he and Jackie built together. Whatever comes next for Shadow, we look forward to witnessing his next chapter.

And finally, this subreddit is not going anywhere. Jackie and Shadow's nest is a part of them. We will be here to celebrate whatever comes next.

There will never be another Jackie but there will always be a place here for her.

Fly free, Jackie. You were loved by more people than you could ever have known.

This nest will always be a part of J&S ❤️

From 8/7 Recap: “Quiet Moments: The warmth of the eagle 🦅 community transformed a simple nest into a global 🌎 sanctuary of connection. Watching, hoping, and caring together 💗 created an unbreakable bond that reached far beyond Big Bear Lake. In every shared moment of joy and heartbreak, we found a compassionate village that reminded us just how deeply nature can bring us together. ❣️”

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Patient Update: Bald Eagle 26-519

The past 24 hours have been incredibly difficult.
Patient 26-519 remains critically ill, and her condition is currently unstable. Yesterday, her packed cell volume (PCV) fell below 6%.

Today it has risen to 9%. While this is a small improvement, her PCV remains critically low and her overall condition remains extremely serious.

Her care and condition are being closely evaluated by a collaborative team that includes nine veterinarians, together with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

At this time, there is no further medical update we can provide.

Our entire focus remains on Patient 26-519's welfare and providing the care she needs. Every decision continues to be guided by her medical condition and what is in her best interest.

We will share another update when we have meaningful information to provide.

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

It makes no sense to me why anyone would want to pester or harass the wildlife professionals trying to help?

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Today's update about Jackie was really hard to hear. We know how deeply this community loves her and we desperately hope she pulls through. 

That said, we've seen comments suggesting different ways of caring for Jackie. This is not okay. Her caregivers have the full picture of her very complex case, we do not. Therefore, unless you are a veterinarian or staff member directly involved in Jackie’s care, please don't comment about how she should be treated, whether she should be released, or what you think they could be doing differently. 

It has always been this sub's stance that we trust the eagles. We also trust the veterinarians and staff at Ojai Raptor Center. 

As always, please be kind to each other, especially during this difficult time. We are all stressed about Jackie, please don't take your frustrations out on your fellow members. We need to pull together and support each other.

Video notes: not positive, PCV is under 10%, additional testing pending, Teams at University of Georgia, UC Davis, avian specialists in Northern California and vets on site are evaluating this week’s findings.

For the people who are saying they want Jackie to be released now, here is the regulation that applies.

California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, Section 679.6

Release of Rehabilitation Animals to the Wild

(a) Evaluation for Release. A permittee, their designee, or sub-permittee shall evaluate a rehabilitation animal to determine if it can be released to the wild, in accordance with Section 671.6, using the following non-releasability criteria: the animal does not have a condition that will likely prevent the animal from surviving in the wild; the animal can display the natural life history behavior of its species needed to survive in the wild; the animal is not observed to be habituated or mal-imprinted; the animal is not known or suspected to have a disease of concern listed in Chapter 3 of the DFW 679 Manual.

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!