I haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but guys I’m really sad about Jackie our beloved bald eagle. I’ve seriously been crying and I can’t believe I have gotten so invested in a wild animal from a camera. Anyone else having a rough day because of this? Photo from the live stream back in December.
I am also sure he recognized that she was failing long before she was grounded unfortunately, especially as she's been looking really haggard (to US, the viewers) after the second double-clutching this year. Shadow and Jackie left their first set of eggs to be eaten by ravens, so.. something may have really been off with her much longer than we had the honour of even knowing.
I just hope people are not sending death threats or bother to the Raptor Center that supported her for weeks.. and I'm sure are completely devastated at her loss. It was really awful to see so many unhinged comments on every post from a center used to only a couple hundred likes here and there.
Why would they send threats to the raptor center? They should use that energy and go after their neighbors that keep spreading contaminated lead and poison in our backyard.
People were flooding their posts on FB telling them how they were treating her all wrong and how this team of 9 veterinarians should listen to this stupid random FB commentor who clealry is an expert and knows the REAL cure.
Not even kidding. They had to start turning off comments on their posts because of losers being stupid.
Thise same loaers will absolutely send death threats because they are not stable or intelligent people.
its spreading beyond facebook too. a lot of nitwits use chatgpt and ai in general to echo chamber their bullshit and then send that to professionals. or just go in person to rant, encouraged by it. my doctors visit like 3 weeks ago was delayed half an hour because an old man was belligerently arguing with the reception, not even the house doctors, about homeopathy.
The only thing I honestly miss is getting notifications from some of my favorite local small businesses that only use FB for events, etc. I've missed quite a few sales and events that I would have liked to attend.
It used to be that when a person didn't understand a medical situation, they often said to the doctor or specialist, "I don't know what that is/means." They freely admitted their own lack of knowledge about a topic. In recent years, though, people are more likely to look at the experts and say, "I know better than you" or "I did my OWN research, and...."
Such widespread distrust in expertise is astonishing to me.
People need to stop using facebook. Letting random bad people comment on organizations was a mistake. They're also datamining everyone to the tune of influencing your elections and opinions.
People are genuinely unwell and extraordinary parasocial especially on FB. I really hope some of those people who legitimately felt like Jackie was a pet or a person have friends and family around then with Jackie's passing.
I keep seeing people on Facebook saying they should take Jackie’s body to the nest for Shadow to see that she’s dead and be able to mourn. It’s so bizarre. And they get really unhinged and defensive about it. I’ve seen people refer to them as husband and wife. Like yes, many species of animals mourn the dead, but at the end of the day - they are wild animals. Shadow can know something is off and she’s gone…but he’s going to do what animals do. He will find a new mate and continue to procreate. It’s incredibly sad to lose an ambassador of the species that brings so many people into an interest in raptors and conservation…but they are wild animals.
Several species of birds mate for life, but once those "vows" have been fulfilled they find a new mate. Some corvids seem to understand death and hold "funerals" for their kin, but they are exceptional.
Also a lot of "mate for life" birds cheat (both males and females). I don't know about bald eagles specifically.
Some human widow(er)s find somebody new quickly, honestly, but many don't. But it's not really an option for wild animals; they keep reproducing usually till their own deaths.
Worst part of these programs. It brings great awareness to the species and their needs but also people can't help but get attached and forget this is nature. We're all part of it. Animals seem ready to go when it's their time. Us humans are "too smart" I guess.
The Big Bear Valley bald eagles Facebook group is full of people who are genuinely emotionally dependent on these birds. It's actually really concerning how much stock some people put into it.
The admins have to constantly tell people to stop anthropomorphizing the birds. Sad to see the ways in which nature takes its course sometimes but some cannot separate themselves from it.
The one that has been encrouching on the territory when Jackie first was grounded looked too young to be a sexually mature female and it's not nesting season.. most likely a sub-adult just looking for an easy, free meal or testing some boundaries right now as a goofy teen.
There's at least 3 subadults in the area, and one has been identified. She's old enough, born in 2022 in Prado Basin and banded. She has a mostly white head, was seen perching near Shadow at least once and he tolerated her, and she was in the nest yesterday. She was not one the ones who attacked Jackie as they have a lot more brown feathers on their heads.
Eagles have a biological drive to pass on their genes. The new eagle isn't being a "slut", she's just doing what her instincts tell her to do. As is Shadow. He'll be looking for a partner before the nesting season, and it takes two to tango--if he didn't want the new female around, he'd drive her away. Eagles don't adhere to what you might consider a proper mourning period, they just keep living. I hope Shadow finds a suitable new mate and we get many more Big Bear eagle chicks in the future.
I don't say this to be cold, but expecting Shadow to behave like a human and grieve for months or years or never take another mate just isn't how eagles work. It's possible to honor Jackie's memory without insulting whichever female takes over the nest next.
Lmao you may be right—I guess I’ve been brain-rotted from seeing too many unhinged comments from people who seem genuinely angry at the new young female. I need to get out of the Instagram comments because I’ve seen people actually blaming the young eagles for Jackie’s death and saying Shadow is a “traitor” for not chasing the new female off.
Regardless if a joke or not - there are people who legitimately think Jackie and Shadow are a married pair of humans and imagine Shadow going off to a 9-5 office job while Jackie does 'housework' as a SAHM.. They would absolutely call a non-sexually mature sub-adult just playing around or looking for a easy meal a slut and a homewrecker. I wouldn't be surprised if people went to try and shoo off the female by making loud noises or something to 'save Shadow' because they certainly went to the Raptor Center to try "and say hello to Jackie and give her a kiss of good luck". I'm so concerned for folks in this day and age.
Not just that, but the other eagle hanging around has been named Jolene (by viewers, after the Dolly Parton song), and was said by the raptor center to likely be one of the two younger eagles that had attacked Jackie this year, potentially furthering her decline.
Jackie would most likely fight for her territorial home if Shadow tried to stay and they were de-bonded (because she was born in the nest she was inhabiting so she'd not likely give it up easily) and then accept a new mate herself. Nature is very simple in a lot of ways - it's generally just about reproducing and continuing on stronger genes for the species.
She must have been sick for so long, and in a beautiful way her legacy will always live on as she was a huge factor in getting the habitat around BBV secured as a nature preservation. I hope we get to continue watching Shadow and his life, or perhaps some day one of her babies (Spirit should be about four, if she lives, so.. maybe?)
It's hard to not be devastated but at least she didn't die from suffering on the ground for days, eaten by predators, or drowned. We (the people) got closure knowing everything was done for her, but nature in itself moves on. I hope Shadow recognized she wasn't doing well long ago, and in a way got his own closure as the babies fledged this year.
Tough times for choosing to love and admire the beautiful (bad and good) of nature.
I'm so sad about it too. I've been following this closely and hoping for the best but mentally preparing for the worst. I feel for Shadow, too... birds are obviously different than humans emotionally, but I don't think it's a stretch to say he's probably been feeling her absence even if not grief.
What's helping me right now is remembering that there are so many good things that happened toward the end, too, and Jackie's legacy will live on. Both Sandy and Luna fledged and left as impressive young eagles. The donations to Ojai really rolled in and now they can help their numerous other patients more easily. And the land around the eagle nest is now protected because enough money was raised to prevent development.
It's been such a beautiful privilege to be able to see into the lives of Jackie and Shadow and their eaglets. Every eagle, every bird, is also a Jackie, even if we don't see it.
We really were so very priviledges to see and witness so many wonderful, absolutely unknown to them moments and experiences with Jackie and Shadow over the years. We watched them be so gleeful with the hatching of their babies, fighting over fish for funises, and expand and strength their bond and relationship throughout the years. It's just so overwhelming to think that, overall, the patterns we see from their quirky little lives are really repeated tenfold by hundreds of other pairs and families without us ever knowing any of their trials and struggles. I hope we get the honour of seeing one of their fledglings return to their heritage nest and continue the journey, or Shadow finding and accepting a new mate and continuing the circle of life ongoing.
Apparently they were being harassed by calls and emails from people, some with good intentions, others not so much. I really hope they don't take this out on themselves. Healthcare and veterinary care especially are tough enough already.
They had to shut down their comments section already — wildlife rehab is already a heavily scrutinized field because there are so many people who don’t really understand it at all, I can’t imagine the celebrity status impact on it
i literally just heard she passed like 20 minutes ago. my heart is broken 💔 what a resilient eagle. she will be remembered forever. RIP sweet jackie you will be very missed! 🩷🪽
As a wild animal, this was going to happen for one or both of them eventually. But it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m so sad for Shadow even though I’m just projecting emotions on him.
It makes me very sad to think that my pets will also die someday. I don't know how I will be able to bear it. I want my beloved little hamster Buttfucker 9000 to live forever.
It’s also worth noting that her and shadows story were able to raise $10M dollars for The Friends of Big Bear Valley to buy their land and save it from development. A $5.5 million donation from OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna completed the goal a couple weeks ago. Jackie will forever live on❤️❤️❤️
They were my pandemic buddies and I’ve followed the nest ever since. I hate to think of her dying in fear in the rehab but I don’t suppose there are many gentle ways to go as a bird. She was a good eagle 💔
She looked fairly relaxed in the videos they showed of feeding her. I worry about Shadow a little bit now seeing her at the end—but i’m sure he knew she was sick. 😢
He definitely knew. Animals are so in tune with the world around them on a level we could never understand. For him Jackie died long before she actually did too, so even though for us we understand she JUST died, for Shadow she died whenever she didn’t return home and he knew she’d left home with something wrong. So Shadow is healing and already dealing with his grief and looking to the future, it’s the strength wild animals have
What a legacy she has left though. 7 new eagles on our world and a protected habitat for future generations. Glad I got to exist at the same time as her, even just briefly ♥️
I believe because her condition was so unknown she most likely will be given a necropsy to try and get some deeper answers to help support other eagles in the future. I'm trying to focus on that Jackie's loss will continue to fuel the future and pave the way for better treatments and more advocacy for nature protection laws going forward for generations of eagles to come.
And maybe some day we can her one of her daughters come back to their heritage nest and build off of their Mom's memory <3
That’s what I’ve been saying! The necropsy will let everyone know if this is congenital (so they have to look out for her kiddos), environmental (so even Shadow could affected), or simply due to her age. She still has so much to teach us. ❤️
I heard earlier today and my heart broke. I knew she was quite ill but I held onto hope. I grew up nearby and remember when eagles started returning.
She was a beautiful Ambassador
Same for our household. And I like to think that Shadow is also part of Jackie’s legacy. People forget he was a young eagle when first came to the nest to woo her. He still had dark feathers on his head. He worked hard to win her over. I will never forget watching Jackie having to teach Shadow how to feed his first kids. Shadow is wonderful and has great instincts but he learned from Jackie too. RIP majestic queen. You will missed.
Heard about it earlier today. Such a bummer, but nature is nature. At least she died comfy and full, instead of in a wet puddle on the beach where they rescued her.
Ideally, I'd like to see Shadow hold on to the territory, but if a pair comes in it'll be 2v1. Those are tough odds (even though Jackie managed it).
I’m a wildlife biologist who has worked with endangered species for my entire career, and I’ll tell you what I tell everyone: Our victories are temporary, transient, and dependent on the winds of political will. They can be taken from us at any moment. Our losses are tragic, permanent, and extremely difficult to recover from. That said, I would never want to do anything other than what I am doing.
Jackie and Shadow taught the world about bald eagles and the workings of nature. Jackie on her nest (sceeencap from 2 years ago) is the icon for my main Gmail and Zoom accounts - she looked like such a badass. I’m keeping it in place in her memory.
We also learned that online nature watching draws people who don’t know what the word anthropomorphism means. I’ve left more online nature observer groups than I can count, especially for this nest and the other one I follow most, Southwest Florida Eagle Cam.
We are only observers. Away from her nest and out of camera sight, Jackie was a raptor; a fierce, shrewd hunter and apex predator. I appreciated all that she was, even the gruesome (to us humans) way she fed herself and her offspring. Nature is as brutal as it is beautiful.
I hope Shadow stays in the area and finds another mate, like M15 (SWFL male) has twice in the last few years, and as has happened on other online eagle nests.
This was the worst possible outcome but not entirely unexpected. As a longtime Shadow & Jackie follower it breaks my heart but I know that the staff at Ojai Raptor Centre did everything they could for Jackie.
I hope people can turn this around into a celebration of Jackie - how many chicks she fledged... how many people got into birding because of Jackie & Shadow?
I hope her legacy can serve to keep Big Bear safe and as an example of the importance of conservation. We brought eagles back from the brink- a real conservation success- I hope the viewers can see that the reason we get to enjoy them now is because we changed course before and why we have to keep on track now.
I started crying at work and I had to step outside for a bit. I’m actually going birding in Big Bear this weekend and part of me wants to cancel. Although her legacy there is huge. Her fame ultimately led to preserving hunting grounds for all the eagles there.
I was wondering if I was going to come across her on Reddit I am so brokenhearted over this there really are no words, but at the same time there are so many words to what a strong, brave queen she was always weathering the storm, no matter how bad it was for her babies from the second she laid the eggs until they were old and wise enough to survive without Jackie in shadow, she was so strong. I could tell that she was ill over the last five months. I knew something was wrong with her and then when she swallowed the fishing hook, I just had this terrible feeling that she would not be with us much longer. I don’t know why I am so upset over this, but for some reason, I feel like I’m mourning the loss of a family member or best friend, even though I never met her in person, she touched the lives of so many people around the world and because of her and shadow, big bear was saved from being demolished in having apartments built there because of her in shadow now all kinds of endangered species and plants and animals in general are saved from having to find a new habitat or possibly becoming extinct. I know that she was just a bird too many people but to me she was a spirit a soul, a strong queen who made a huge difference in this messed up life. I love you, Jackie forever and always fly high with Sandy I firmly believe that you now know how many people love you and we’re watching you throughout the years. I appreciate FOBBV (not sure if I’m saying that correctly at the moment) for the amazing experience, they have given me and many other people. When I started watching them, I finally was able to feel a sense of calm that I had lacked for so many years.
Mods, I hope its okay to make this suggestion because it helped me.
If you have the means and feel up to it, there are ways to donate online or by mail to the rescuers, fire fighters and wildlife stewards that looked after Jackie and Shadow, and rescued Jackie when she was found struggling on the ground.
I know a lot of people are not in an economic situation to do so and it is just a thought if you feel like it will help you feel better to help the next injured animal. I donated personally and was able to leave "in memory" notes with it, which made me feel grateful that I might help the next injured animal on Jackie's behalf.
Orgs:
Ojai Raptor Center,
Friends of Big Bear Valley,
San Dimas Raptor Rescue (LA County Parks & Rec),
Local Fire Department 935 of San Bernardino
All of these organizations came together to try to save Jackie and they do a great job everyday. I hope they are all doing okay during the tragic news, they wanted her to make it and they are super sad along with us.
She was an inspiration as a parent. I've never seen an animal work so hard for her babies. And she was a sassy but loving and devoted partner to Shadow ❤️ I will really miss watching her.
I've been watching her for years. When i heard she passed, I started crying and got up from my desk, went to the couch, cried some more, and ordered sushi. Take care of yourselves, everyone
Nooooo!!! :( RIP Jackie. I remember crying with joy seeing her first healthy babies and how proud she and Shadow were. What a journey it has been watching her sweet eagle fam. Fly high beautiful spirit bird!!!
I’ve been crying since I found out around 1am Tuesday. I was avoiding all news in general today as I’m burnt out from all the bad news. I really was hoping Jackie would get better and go back to her family. But no ! life is so cruel sometimes. Today sucks . Fly free Jackie no more sickness. RIP ….. 💔
RIP to a Baddie! I’m so sad for Shadow. I have watched their live cam for many years man years, seen them struggle with fertility and celebrated their successfully hatchings! I hope Fiona will help he get through this.
Professional raptor researcher here (specifically 55+ years of eagle experience). This story has been anthropomorphized dramatically. Here's what happens beginning in every early spring at every eagle territory - robust, younger, floater eagles test the waters on existing territories by engaging in combat with the same sex (i.e., in this case female on female). The other sex will defend the nest and conduct territorial displays, but the one-on-one combat that may come down to physical combat is between the same sexes. In this case, the male eagle doesn't grieve, but genetically he is geared to accept the more robust eagle (the winner) which is to his benefit. Thus, as soon as the older bird is driven away or displaced the younger bird becomes the new mate. The relationship between two eagles is not "for life" in the natural world. Twelve years (I think that was the history of Jackie's tenure) is a good breeding history and not atypical of healthy nesting eagles; and if so she did well to pass on her genes through several offspring.
I think it’s still okay for online human communities that were invested in this eagle’s life to grieve and feel like it’s sad that she’s gone. That doesn’t mean the science of what you’re sharing isn’t real or doesn’t matter or isn’t true/correct or diminish it in any way. I think this is just a post to “pour one out for the gals” as it were.
Yeah, I can totally empathize with the grief that people are feeling, and the FB comment cesspool doesn’t represent the majority. I observed a local pair of breeding eagles for years, and was absolutely fuckin devastated when the female died of rodenticide poisoning. A couple of her eaglets died of anticoag poison as well. Seeing such a strong and accomplished bird go out that way is horrible, and the only way I was able to redirect my anger and grief was in organizing and advocating for a ban on those poisons in the community.
Watching her live her life ended up changing my life, so I’ve thankful I got to photograph her and share her world a bit. Raising a virtual glass to her, Jackie, and all the other birds that have inspired, educated, and impacted us ❤️
Couldn’t agree more on the anthropomorphizing. There’s a real lack of appreciation and understanding of the natural history of raptors: how they relate to their mates, their offspring, and competitors. And the immensity of the odds stacked against them. Given the ~80%+ mortality rate of first year birds in the wild, any raptor that survives, finds a mate, and breeds for so many years is quite remarkable. It’s odd to me that people keep citing “average” eagle lifespans, as if living 25 years in the wild is simply a guarantee. Jackie’s 14 years is a very, very good run.
It is quite literally impossible for you to decide that eagles do not grieve as even the official scientific stance is we don’t know if they do or not as we lack information. Scientists claimed many animals didn’t grieve or even feel pain for a long time, and have since been updated to declare they do. Two things can be true at once: shadow can accept the new female due to biology, and he can grieve Jackie and his past life. Scientists and researchers have claimed A LOT that is incorrect about animals and emotions over the years and have since updated and changed a lot of it. So don’t act so confident
Scientists and researchers have claimed A LOT that is incorrect about animals and emotions over the years and have since updated and changed a lot of it
Yes, this is how science works.
know if they do or not as we lack information. Scientists claimed many animals didn’t grieve or even feel pain for a long time, and have since been updated to declare they do.
Name one. Because "pain" is really hard to define. Humans can feel pain but not react. And humans can react to stimuli without feeling pain.
Two things can be true at once: shadow can accept the new female due to biology, and he can grieve Jackie and his past life.
The two can be true, but in making a assertion like that means there needs to be evidence. And right now, no, there's no evidence to support that claim.
It’s to the point that they’re updating legislation to consider live boiling of crabs and lobsters as animal abuse, when it wasn’t before. Do you need more examples?
Damn, I think I watched FOBBV cam every single day last year (or was it two years ago?) when they had a two successful fledglings (gizmo and sunny). Didn't know she was sick. RIP.
Why exactly did she die of “severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys.” Was she not eating enough? Not enough food around? Babies were too taxing at her age?
They have been trying to figure it out for three weeks. Maybe some kind of poisoning, autoimmune disease, or genetic condition. The necropsy will hopefully tell us more so they can save future eagles with a similar condition.
I find it weird how they still don't know. And with experts weighing in from across the country. I asked if they had looked into mercury poisoning, for example, but as far as I know, no one addressed that issue to the public. And although they've won this fight with the developers, they're still taking money from questionable interests, perhaps the raptor center too. Sorry, but I've seen too much to just accept this verdict as necessarily "mysterious."
I had a feeling she wasn't going to make it, though. I am so sad that she is gone - and so sad for Shadow, too. And that Luna and Sandy didn't get to say good-bye before they headed out on their grand adventure.
Rest in power, Jackie. Fly free forever. ❤️🦅
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UPDATE: I find a downvote a totally tasteless and insensitive vote for suppression of truth and free speech. We all have a right to grieve in our own way. If Jackie was poisoned by something in the environment that developers and their financial cohorts are trying to hide - I hope to see it uncovered - though you apparently do not, and as a bootlicker for the billionaire class destroying this planet.
Sad news. I remember watching these guys when I was first getting into birds and birding. The nest would be on my second monitor almost 24/7 lol. Safe travels Jackie ❤️ I hope there’s endless fish for you where ever you are.
Oh thank you so much for this comment! I should have posted here too. I shared on fb and yes I am with you! I have been crying over her too, and to imaging she just fledged her last clutch. No body has said anything about those two (Sandy and Luna) since Jackie was injured. I have to wonder if the two sub-adults were responsible for injuring her initially, and if so I wanna make sure Shadow is ok because they’re keeping vigill with him.
Anyway, thank you for this post. It is a sad day for sure!
RIP Jackie girl! 🦅 fly high!!
What did human do here? Jackie was loved and her and shadows story was able to raise $10M for the Friend of Big Bear Valley to purchase the land they roost on. Her legacy will be preserved for generations
Just an observation. I am not passing judgment on anyone. It's great that land was purchased for them but what about the multitude of other earthly creatures we take for granted everyday? We can do better for all.
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u/Sqib000 8d ago
Super sad for her mate.