The verified record
Every update, in order, with receipts
Newest first. Each entry links to the official statement or reporting it came from. If it's not here, we couldn't verify it — check the rumor check before worrying.
- Fri, Aug 21
Kaydee: FOBBV names the eagle who's been spending time with Shadow
Speaking to NBC Los Angeles the evening after Jackie's death, FOBBV media manager Jenny Voisard said the chances are high that Shadow, now roughly 12 years old, will eventually find a new mate, though the group can't predict exactly what he'll do or when. In her words, "we don't know what he's going to do exactly; we can't predict those outcomes, but there's a good chance that he would want to stay in the territory... we don't want Shadow to be alone. I don't think his instincts would let him." Voisard said visiting eagles have already been seen near the territory, and FOBBV will see whether one is around at the right time and age to potentially form a bond. The live nest cams are staying up: FOBBV has no plans to remove them. Sandy and Luna, this year's fledglings, remain unseen on camera since July 23 and are believed to have already dispersed on their own journeys. Voisard also told ABC11 that Shadow "was very set on being here when he came to the territory in 2018, so we don't know if that means he'll want to stay," and noted a juvenile eagle was seen visiting the nest area on Monday, a sign that natural activity around the territory continues. One of the eagles that has been visiting now has a name. The Orange County Water District, which bands eagles born in its Prado Basin habitat each year, says a biologist has confirmed the eagle seen spending time with Shadow is KD1. In the district's own words: "you may know her as the young eagle who's been seen cozying up to Shadow in Big Bear. But to us, she's known as KD1." FOBBV's own August 13 Eagle Log entry gives the fuller account: a banded sub-adult was first seen on their cams in the habitat on August 6, and as the days went on it began perching near Shadow in several of his favored trees. KD1 was hatched in March 2022, making her about four and a half years old, and first visited the nest itself on August 10, just hours after Jackie's death was announced, stopping by a few more times since. FOBBV is careful to note that DNA testing was not done when KD1 was banded, so her sex can't be confirmed directly; comparing her size to Shadow's, she does appear larger, and female eagles typically run 25 to 33 percent bigger than males, which is the basis for calling her female. Speaking to CBS Los Angeles about what may come next for the nest, a field biologist said KD1, now approaching breeding age, "may be looking around, looking for habitat, looking for territories," as young eagles typically do outside breeding season, but was careful to note that her presence is not confirmation of anything: there is no guarantee she or any other visiting eagle will end up paired with Shadow. FOBBV's own words capture the uncertainty well: "Is this a new bond forming between these 2? Well, it could be and it may not be, only time will tell," adding that nothing will be clearer until breeding season, later this fall or winter. The clearest sign yet came on August 13. Per FOBBV's own Live Recap log, Shadow (S) entered the nest itself at 13:40, the first time he had stepped onto the nest since July 23, with the banded sub-adult KD1 following him in; both left a few minutes later. Video FOBBV shared shows KD1 moving sticks around the nest while Shadow watched without chasing her off, and at one point KD1 leaned over and briefly preened his wing feathers, a behavior called allopreening, before the two flew off together toward the Twin Pines tree. FOBBV and outlets covering the moment were careful to note that one preening interaction is not proof of a new pair bond; nesting season begins September 1, and FOBBV says it will take time, likely into the fall or winter breeding season, before anything is clearer. The day after, FOBBV's own Eagle Log carried a warmer, quieter account. On the morning of August 14, Shadow perched on the Lookout Snag before flying off, and mid-morning the group spotted KD1 on the Twin Pines. Shadow flew over to join her, and after sitting apart for a while he hopped to a branch just below her; the two spent several relaxing hours together before KD1 flew off. FOBBV titled the entry "You've Got A Friend" and closed it by remembering Jackie: "Jackie will always be in our hearts; she has left her mark on this beautiful nest and this magnificent valley. As we think of her in every moment, we look towards the sky above us for nature's untold story in the days and weeks to come." Some news coverage of the pair has used the nickname "Katie" for the visiting eagle; that is an informal nickname some fans and outlets have picked up, not a name FOBBV or the Orange County Water District use, so this page continues to call her KD1, her official band designation. FOBBV's own Live Recap log shows the two continuing to spend time together in the days since. On August 16, KD1 visited the nest basement twice during the day, and that evening she and Shadow settled into the Roost Tree together for the night, their first confirmed overnight roost together. They did the same again on the night of August 17, and per the Live Recap log they were together in the Roost Tree once more on the evening of August 18. It is their closest, most sustained time together so far, though FOBBV has not issued a new statement calling it anything more than that; the group continues to say nesting season begins September 1 and nothing will be clearer until then. On August 19, FOBBV made it official on Instagram: they have given KD1 a name, Kaydee. In FOBBV's own words: "Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term…until now. We have chosen to name KD1 Kaydee, whether or not they decide to stay in the area. We cannot know for sure if Kaydee is a female or not, we can only observe and let nature tell us the definitive answer to that question. With that being said, we are leaning towards female." The same post recapped the days since: Tuesday evening (Aug 18) the two roosted together in a favored tree; Wednesday morning (Aug 19) they both sang good mornings to the valley, a duet that lines up with vocals FOBBV's Live Recap log logged in that same early-morning window; that afternoon Shadow flew to the Twin Pines perch tree and Kaydee joined him less than a minute later, and the two stayed on separate branches for about three hours before Kaydee followed Shadow out just two seconds after he left ("Shadow has a shadow!" FOBBV wrote); and as evening came, the two were back together in the Roost Tree. FOBBV's own Live Recap log has since started labeling her simply "K" in its cam notes, alongside "S" for Shadow. The group again cautioned that nothing about a bond is confirmed and that breeding season, which would make things clearer, does not begin until later this fall or winter. FOBBV's own Live Recap log shows the pattern continuing since that post: Shadow and Kaydee, now logged simply as “S” and “K” in the cam notes, roosted together in the Roost Tree again on the nights of August 20 and August 21, their sixth straight night together as of this writing. FOBBV has not issued any new statement beyond what it said on August 19; nesting season, and any clearer sign of a bond, remains months away.
FOBBV Instagram · Aug 19FOBBV Live Recap doc · Aug 13FOBBV Eagle Log · Aug 13Orange County Water District Facebook · Aug 7NBC Los Angeles · Aug 10ABC11 · Aug 11CBS Los Angeles · Aug 12ABC7 Los Angeles · Aug 14KESQ · Aug 13Victor Valley News · Aug 14FOBBV Eagle Log · Aug 14FOBBV Live Recap doc · Aug 18Popular Science · Aug 19FOBBV Live Recap doc · Aug 21 - Thu, Aug 20
A community petition asks officials to let Jackie's remains return to Big Bear
A Change.org petition, "Preserve and return Jackie the bald eagle to Big Bear Valley," started by a local resident, Sandra Sehl, has drawn roughly 970 signatures asking wildlife officials to pause any irreversible handling of Jackie's remains and determine whether she could be preserved intact and returned to Big Bear Valley through an educational, scientific, conservation, or memorial arrangement, envisioning a permanent local exhibit telling her story. This is a citizen-organized effort, not a proposal from CDFW, USFWS, ORC, or FOBBV, and none of those agencies has publicly responded to it. The official plan CDFW announced on August 11 stands unchanged: following her necropsy, Jackie's remains are headed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository, which distributes eagle remains to enrolled tribal members for religious and cultural use.
- Wed, Aug 19
FOBBV: agencies are planning an October 3 event to honor Jackie
Friends of Big Bear Valley says several agencies in the Big Bear Valley have come together to discuss an event honoring Jackie, planned for October 3. In the same August 19 Instagram post where it named the visiting eagle Kaydee, FOBBV said it is running a poll in its YouTube channel's chat to gauge how many people would attend, so organizers can plan a venue of the right size; anyone interested can vote through FOBBV's YouTube channel. No further details, including the venue or which agencies are involved, have been announced yet. This is a separate, FOBBV-organized gathering from the informal memorial a private business, Fawn Park in Fawnskin, has been hosting on its own since mid-August.
- Mon, Aug 17
A minor league baseball team is dedicating a game to Jackie on Aug 23
The Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Single-A minor league affiliate in Ontario, California, announced they are partnering with Friends of Big Bear Valley for "Fly High, Jackie Night," a tribute game on Sunday, August 23 against the Inland Empire 66ers at ONT Field, first pitch 5:05 p.m. The team says 50% of proceeds from tickets bought through FOBBV's dedicated ticket link will be donated to the nonprofit in Jackie's memory. This is the team's own announcement, made in partnership with FOBBV; FOBBV has not put out a separate statement of its own about the game.
- Wed, Aug 12
Community support tops 20,000 donations to Jackie's care fund
The Ojai Raptor Center's Bald Eagle Rehabilitation Campaign has now logged more than 20,000 individual donations (20,317 as of today) from Jackie's worldwide family, with tributes continuing in the days since her death. The center continues to ask supporters to give through the official campaign page rather than by calling or texting the center directly, so its phone lines stay open for animals in urgent need.
- Tue, Aug 11
The fuller account: a blood clot, organ abnormalities, and no single cause ever pinned down
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Ojai Raptor Center have now given the fuller account of Jackie's final days that ORC had promised. In a joint statement dated August 11, CDFW said that in her final days she developed a large blood clot in her wing and near one kidney, on top of another decline in her blood values. ORC's own FAQ page for Patient 26-519 fills in the clinical picture further: despite extensive testing, veterinarians never identified one definitive cause for her decline. Findings included severe regenerative anemia, thrombosis in her wing and one kidney, liver abnormalities, lung abnormalities, and an inadequate bone marrow response. After 23 days in treatment, she was no longer able to keep food down, and her packed cell volume declined sharply in her final days. She had recently undergone a contrast CT scan, a bone marrow biopsy, and specialized heavy-metal testing; veterinarians worked with specialists across the country to evaluate the findings while some results remained pending, and her prognosis became increasingly poor. Following a necropsy by veterinary pathologists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, her remains will be transported to the National Eagle Repository, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility that receives, evaluates, and distributes eagle remains and feathers to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes for religious, cultural, and ceremonial purposes, and also runs educational programs. Governor Gavin Newsom, CDFW Director Meghan Hertel, Ojai Raptor Center Executive Director Chris Eksteen, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Paul Souza each offered statements thanking the partner agencies and reflecting on Jackie's legacy.
- Tue, Aug 11
FOBBV to hold a special live chat this Friday for the community to share about Jackie
Friends of Big Bear Valley says it will hold a special live chat this Friday, August 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Pacific, so the community can come together and share memories of Jackie. The group's live recap page also carries a short memorial note, "2012 - 2026, Jackie passed on 8/10/26, soaring high with Sandy Steers" - a reference to FOBBV's late executive director Sandy Steers, who died earlier this year, not eaglet Sandy, who is unrelated. The nest cams remain live as usual, continuing to show Shadow around the territory.
- Mon, Aug 10
Jackie has died, the Ojai Raptor Center says
The Ojai Raptor Center says Jackie — Patient 26-519 — died in the early hours of Monday, August 10, after more than three weeks of intensive medical care. In ORC's words, her condition had continued to deteriorate over the preceding days “despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists”; she remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in the center's intensive care unit. ORC says every decision throughout her time there was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and its responsibility to do what was in her best interest. Her remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. ORC says it is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CDFW and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results — so the underlying cause of the anemia that brought her in has still not been announced. The center turned off comments on its post and asked for patience and kindness while its staff process the loss, writing that its team is heartbroken and that caring for her had been “an extraordinary privilege.” Friends of Big Bear Valley shared the news on its own page, asking people to be kind to themselves, to each other, and to the teams involved.
- Sun, Aug 9
PCV falls below 6%, then rises to 9%; ORC says Jackie is unstable
The Ojai Raptor Center says the past 24 hours have been “incredibly difficult.” Jackie remains critically ill and her condition is currently unstable: her packed cell volume (PCV), the share of red blood cells in her blood, fell below 6% the previous day before rising to 9%. ORC calls that a small improvement but says her PCV remains critically low and her overall condition 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. ORC says there is no further medical update it can provide at this time, that its entire focus remains on her welfare, and that every decision continues to be guided by her medical condition and what is in her best interest. The center says it will share another update when it has meaningful information to provide.
- Fri, Aug 7
Another setback: PCV falls below 10%, Jackie back in intensive care
The Ojai Raptor Center says Jackie's blood values have declined again: her packed cell volume (PCV), the share of red blood cells in her blood, has fallen below 10%, down from 13% reported August 3, and her condition remains critical. She is back in intensive care, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring. ORC says this week's contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy have provided important new information, while additional specialized testing remains pending; its veterinary team continues working closely with specialists across the country to evaluate the findings and determine next steps in her care. The center says every decision is guided first and foremost by her medical condition and welfare, and it will keep sharing meaningful updates as it learns more. The underlying cause of her anemia is still unknown.
- Thu, Aug 6
ORC invites cards and notes of encouragement for Jackie and her care team
The Ojai Raptor Center says several people have asked whether they can mail a card or note of encouragement for Patient 26-519 (Jackie) or the team caring for her, and the answer is yes. Cards can be mailed to the center at P.O. Box 182, Oak View, CA 93022, addressed to Attn: Patient 26-519; ORC plans to display them at the center for staff to see. ORC says the encouragement has meant a great deal to the team over these past few weeks. This is a community-support note, not a medical update: her condition is unchanged since Wednesday's CT scan and bone marrow biopsy, with her care team still reviewing results and additional lab work pending.
- Wed, Aug 5
Sandy and Luna's journey begins: FOBBV believes they've left the valley
Friends of Big Bear Valley's August 5 live recap says that after being last seen on the nest cameras on July 23, Sandy and Luna appear to have left Big Bear Valley on their next journey, and the group wished the pair well on their future adventures. Neither eaglet is banded, so their exact whereabouts can't be tracked, though FOBBV says they may still turn up on camera from time to time. The timing matches what FOBBV described last week: past fledglings from this nest have typically dispersed about four weeks after fledging, and FOBBV had already said that once the two are no longer in the habitat, Shadow would not need to keep defending the territory.
- Wed, Aug 5
Advanced testing: a contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy
On Wednesday, the Ojai Raptor Center's veterinary team performed a contrast CT scan, a bone marrow biopsy, and other advanced diagnostics as they continue investigating the cause of Jackie's anemia. ORC says she recovered well from anesthesia and is resting in her recovery enclosure with supplemental oxygen. Its veterinary team, scientific advisory council, and consulting specialists are now reviewing today's findings alongside her earlier test results, with additional lab work still pending. ORC says a fuller update will follow once everything has been reviewed. The underlying cause of her anemia remains unknown.
- Wed, Aug 5
FOBBV: please don't demand updates — a petition is straining Jackie's care team
Friends of Big Bear Valley says an online petition demanding more frequent public updates on Jackie is circulating, and the group does not support it. In FOBBV's own words: none of us are entitled to any information, the petition does nothing for Jackie, and it hinders her care team while heightening people's anxiety over the situation. FOBBV also called it a disappointment to see people leaving unkind comments on the Ojai Raptor Center's own posts, and again asked everyone not to call, text, or show up at the center's doors. The Ojai Raptor Center has separately described facing constant requests for information, repeated phone calls, unexpected visits, and messages to staff's personal accounts, all of which pull time and attention away from patient care, including Jackie's. National coverage that followed a few days later noted that despite the frustration, ORC has provided nine health updates in the roughly three weeks since Jackie's rescue. Both organizations ask for patience and say they will keep sharing meaningful updates through their official channels.
- Mon, Aug 3
A real setback: anemia worsens, PCV falls to 13%
The Ojai Raptor Center shared difficult news in a Monday bloodwork update: Jackie's anemia has worsened since their July 31 report. Her packed cell volume, the share of red blood cells in her blood, has fallen to 13%, down from the 17% reported four days earlier. ORC says its veterinary team is responding quickly, with additional advanced diagnostic testing now underway and expedited laboratory testing requested so the team can better understand her condition and guide next steps. The underlying cause of her anemia is still unknown. It is a real reversal after a week of gains, though her PCV remains well above the 8% low recorded before her July 23 transfusion, and ORC has not said her prognosis or care plan has changed beyond stepping up testing.
- Fri, Jul 31
PCV climbs to 17%, more causes ruled out, and a franker timeline: weeks if not months
The Ojai Raptor Center marked two weeks since Jackie's rescue with a fuller update, including a video statement from Executive Director Chris Eksteen. Jackie's bloodwork still shows anemia, but her packed cell volume, the share of red blood cells in her blood, has improved to 17%, up from 16% earlier in the week, though the vet team wants to see it above 30%. An elevated white cell count shows she is responding to inflammation, stress, or a possible infection. Eksteen said the team has now ruled out lead toxicosis, zinc toxicosis, aspergillosis, rodenticide toxicosis, and renal disease, though the underlying cause of her anemia is still unknown. Next steps include frequent blood and white cell monitoring, a specialized test for less common heavy metal toxicosis (results take several weeks), and radiographs to watch her lungs, with another CT scan planned once her PCV is a bit higher. Eksteen said, "While we know much more today than what we did a week ago, there are still many unanswered questions in this very complex case," and was direct that recovery will take weeks if not months. ORC's statement was clear: she remains stable, but is still a very sick patient with a long recovery road ahead.
- Thu, Jul 30
A protective tail guard, and continued good signs out of ICU
The Ojai Raptor Center has fitted Jackie with a tail guard, a lightweight protective sheet placed over her tail feathers so they don't bend, break, or get pulled out while she recovers in her hospital enclosure. Tail feathers are what a bald eagle uses to steer, brake, and stay stable in flight, so protecting them now matters for her eventual return to the wild. The care team says she is tolerating the guard well and was bright and alert as of Thursday, continuing the trend since her move out of intensive care.
- Wed, Jul 29
Moved out of intensive care, into a regular hospital unit
The Ojai Raptor Center announced that Jackie has been moved out of their intensive care unit, where she needed oxygen therapy, and into one of their regular hospital care units. ORC was careful to frame this as one encouraging step, not an all-clear: in their words, it does not mean she is out of danger, and she remains a very sick patient who continues to need intensive treatment and around-the-clock monitoring. The move follows the rebound already reported earlier in the week, when her red blood cell count roughly doubled after Saturday's setback; the underlying cause of her anemia is still unknown. ORC again asked the public and media not to call, text, email, or visit for updates, and to follow their official channels instead.
- Mon, Jul 27
A weekend setback, then a rebound: her blood count has roughly doubled
The Ojai Raptor Center gave a fuller picture of the past several days in its own statement. After the encouraging transfusion, Jackie's blood values declined again on Saturday, a real setback, before she began improving once more. Her packed cell volume, a measure of red blood cells, has roughly doubled since before that dip, from 8% to 16% as of Monday, though ORC is clear it remains below normal and they are watching her bloodwork daily. The hopeful signs continue alongside it: she is eating on her own, her energy and alertness have noticeably improved, and she has grown much more feisty during feedings. ORC describes her condition as stable but critical: she is in intensive care on round-the-clock supportive treatment and is receiving several prophylactic treatments to support her body. Despite extensive testing and consultation with experienced wildlife veterinarians, the center says it still does not have a definitive diagnosis, and will keep adjusting her treatment as new information comes in. ORC also asks that people not call, text, email, or visit the facility for updates, so its teams can stay focused on patient care, and promises to keep sharing meaningful updates through its official channels.
- Sun, Jul 26
The subadult near the nest, and why Sandy & Luna haven't been on camera since Jul 23
Friends of Big Bear Valley shared new context in their own Habitat Update on two questions many have been asking. First, on the subadult eagle seen near the nest in recent days, the one FOBBV believes likely fought with Jackie while she was already weakened by illness: they spoke with bald eagle expert and conservationist Dr. Peter Sharpe, who aged the bird at three and a half years old. Bald eagles generally reach full maturity at five, and although they can be ready to mate at four, that is less common, so Dr. Sharpe feels it is a bit early for this subadult to be looking for a nesting territory or a mate. Shadow showed defensive behavior toward it for several days while Sandy and Luna were still around the nest. Second, Sandy and Luna have not been seen on the nest cameras since July 23. Vocals that may be theirs have been heard in the habitat, but FOBBV is careful to note that several other young eagles are in the area, so those calls may or may not be them. If the two have indeed left, the timing is completely normal: past fledglings from this nest have generally dispersed around four weeks after fledging. FOBBV stresses it is not confirmed that they have gone, only that time will tell, and that if they are no longer in the habitat Shadow would not feel the need to protect the territory. They also note that outside nesting season eagles are far more tolerant of one another.
- Fri, Jul 24
"Not a straightforward case": ORC's hospital manager on the ongoing search for answers
The Ojai Raptor Center's hospital manager, Eliza Cameron, gave a further update overnight: Jackie's condition remains critical, and this is not a straightforward case, so the center is consulting with several specialists as they work through her care. It echoes what ORC and FOBBV have said all week — the transfusion and clearer test results are genuinely good news, but her severe anemia still doesn't have a confirmed cause, and the team is being careful not to get ahead of the facts.
- Thu, Jul 23
The family is thriving: Luna chased off an intruder, and an expert speaks on Shadow's bond
In their fullest family update yet, FOBBV confirmed what cam watchers had suspected: a couple of days ago Luna chased an intruding eagle away from the nest before joining Shadow and Sandy, and Shadow has been firmly defending the territory, including telling off a sub-adult perched on his Twin Pines tree. FOBBV says that visitor is possibly a four-plus-year-old female, and possibly the same eagle involved in the short battle with Jackie. Sandy and Luna are exploring farther into the habitat and appear on camera less, but they visit the nest daily and are doing fantastic. FOBBV also spoke with an eagle expert about the question so many have been afraid to ask, and the answer is comforting: given Jackie and Shadow's extraordinary bond, it is considered unlikely Shadow would seek a new mate now. Eagle pairing hormones do not typically stir until around late December or early January. Shadow is a wild eagle and will ultimately do as he chooses, FOBBV was careful to add, but nothing in his behavior suggests anything except a mate holding the territory for his partner.
- Wed, Jul 22
A life-saving transfusion from an eagle named Spirit, and a fuller medical picture
ORC and FOBBV both shared their fullest medical update yet, and it carries real hope alongside honest caution. On July 22, Jackie received a successful life-saving blood transfusion, donated by Spirit, the resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) in Bakersfield, and she seems to be holding her own. Spirit is a non-releasable bald eagle who has called CALM Zoo home since 2003 after wing fractures and eye trauma, and gave a quick, minimally invasive blood draw for the transfer; ORC thanked the CALM Zoo team for the collaboration, and Spirit was rewarded with extra trout. She also received an advanced CT scan at the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, which showed no obvious signs of cancer and no metals in her body. Dr. Mike Higgins, who performed the scan, said she was very calm and was handled very carefully throughout the procedure. Lead poisoning has been ruled out (zinc results are still pending), and swallowed fishing gear has been ruled out too. There is no reliable test for rodenticides, so although the teams do not believe that is the issue, she is being treated for it as a precaution. Her kidney values have improved, her energy is improving, and she is eating, both assisted and on her own; the many medications she is on may be dampening her appetite, and she is still being feisty with the staff. The central mystery remains her severe anemia, and a team of specialists is working to determine its cause. The care teams want everyone to know she is still in guarded, critical condition and things can turn in a moment. ORC hopes to share the next update on Monday, and asks everyone to keep giving the team room to work rather than calling or visiting.
- Wed, Jul 22
FOBBV: no new test results yet, but 'the best of the best' are on her case
In their Eagle Log, Friends of Big Bear Valley shared that the Ojai Raptor Center reached out on July 22 with no new medical update to report. The center told FOBBV that Jackie has a team of specialists working on her case and that they understand how much she means to the eagle family and the wider community. FOBBV says they will share more the moment there is anything new.
- Wed, Jul 22
Vets believe illness came before the fight, not from it
The Ojai Raptor Center's vet team now believes Jackie was already sick before witnesses saw her in a brief ground altercation with two younger eagles last week. In their reading, the illness likely made her vulnerable to that encounter, rather than the fight itself causing her current condition. That lines up with her physical exam, which found no fractures or major wounds. The medical focus stays on her anemia and kidney inflammation, whose root cause is still being worked out.
- Wed, Jul 22
ORC: her condition remains critical. She is alert, eating, and being fought for.
In their fullest statement yet, the Ojai Raptor Center shared that initial bloodwork shows Jackie is experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. The underlying cause is not yet known, and additional bloodwork and diagnostic results are still pending. Supportive treatment has begun, with expert guidance from wildlife professionals around the world. ORC is direct about the gravity: her condition remains critical, this is a very serious case, and it is too early to predict the outcome. The hopeful part is real too: she remains alert and is eating. ORC asks everyone, including media, not to call, text, or email their hotline or offices. Official updates will come through their social channels and website.
- Tue, Jul 21
Heads up: ORC says Facebook removed some of their updates. Their Instagram has them.
The Ojai Raptor Center announced that Facebook has removed several of their recent patient updates and temporarily restricted some features on their account. They have requested a review and hope the posts will be restored soon. In the meantime, ORC asks followers to check their Instagram (@ojairaptorcenter) for patient updates. This changes nothing about Jackie's care. It only changes where ORC can post news, and FOBBV's channels continue to relay updates as usual. Update: as of July 27, ORC has resumed posting patient updates on its Facebook page as well as Instagram.
- Tue, Jul 21
Morning update: anemia and kidney inflammation, but more energy and a feisty spirit
FOBBV relayed a morning update from the Ojai Raptor Center. The concerning part: Jackie is anemic and has inflammation affecting her kidneys, and the underlying cause is not yet known. Tests for lead, zinc, and rodenticide levels are still pending, and several specialist veterinarians are working on the best supportive care. The heartening part: she has more energy, is "mad and fighting the staff" in FOBBV’s words (that’s our Jackie), is eating well with assistance and even picking up food on her own, and is still standing and perching. X-rays found no fishing hooks, sinkers, or other metal objects.
- Mon, Jul 20
Underweight but alert, perching, and eating
The Ojai Raptor Center reports Jackie is alert, perching, and eating with assistance. Her physical exam found no fractures and no major wounds — she arrived lethargic and underweight, which is why full diagnostic testing matters. Results are expected within days.
- Mon, Jul 20
It's officially Jackie — and she's in specialist hands
What early reports could only call an eagle 'believed to be Jackie' has been confirmed by Friends of Big Bear Valley: the rescued eagle is Jackie. She was admitted to the Ojai Raptor Center, a facility specializing in birds of prey, on July 18 for advanced care and a comprehensive medical evaluation.
- Sun, Jul 19
Shadow holds the territory — six fish delivered
While Jackie recovers, Shadow is doing what he has always done: guarding the territory and providing. Friends of Big Bear Valley counted six fish deliveries for Sandy and Luna, who fledged in late June and are flying well.
- Sat, Jul 18
Rescued in the small hours by 'Jackie's angels'
After being found grounded on the shoreline at Dana Point Park on Friday evening — apparently after defending her territory against two subadult eagles — Jackie was watched over for hours by residents, visitors, and the Fawnskin fire crew under Captain Dennis Jones. The San Dimas Raptor Rescue Team of the LA County Parks Department completed the rescue around 2:00 a.m. Saturday.