See Jackie, Shadow drama spark social media reactions
There have been barrage of concerned comments and well wishers online for beloved bald eagle Jackie as she recovers.
Jackie, the beloved bald eagle, remains in rehab, but there has not been an update on her condition since Thursday, July 23. However, the nonprofit that monitors the eagles released new information regarding the altercation she was involved in.
On Sunday, July 26, Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), which manages the eagle nest cam, stated that the Ojai Raptor Center, where Jackie is being treated, would not have another update on Jackie’s condition until possibly Monday, July 27. They also released more information about the eagle that is believed to have been involved in the altercation with Jackie.
While Jackie is in rehab, her mate, Shadow, and their offspring, Sandy and Luna, have been at the nest, though Sandy and Luna have not been spotted for several days.
The subadult eagle in the altercation is around 3.5 years old and has been spotted near the nest, according to the nonprofit. A subadult eagle means it is not fully grown, as eagles do not reach maturity until around 5 years old, but it can begin to lay eggs when it’s 4.
“Shadow did show defensive behavior against the subadult for several days while Sandy and Luna were at the nest and seen in the area on both cameras,” the organization said in a post on Facebook.
While it is not known what sparked the altercation, the subadult eagle is still too young to be looking for a mate or nesting territory, according to Peter Sharpe, a conservationist and eagle expert.
Did Sandy and Luna leave the nest?
The last time Sandy and Luna were spotted on the webcam was on Thursday, July 23, according to FOBBV. Though vocals have been heard, it is unknown if they were from Sandy or Luna.
While it hasn’t been confirmed if they have indeed left the nest, eagles usually leave around a month after they’ve fledged.
What happened to Jackie?
On Friday, July 17, an eagle, now confirmed to be Jackie, was seen in an “altercation” with two subadult eagles, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley.
“Cell phone video confirmed that the adult was able to fend off the other eagles by turning over and using its talons, but was unable to fly far away,” the nonprofit stated on Facebook.
While the eagle was able to defend itself, it did not get far and was seen on the ground near Dana Point Park, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Video posted to Facebook by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation shows the eagle moving through a body of water.
The nonprofit said the public tried “contacting several agencies for help with no response,” until one individual reported the situation to the local San Bernardino County fire station in Fawnskin, where Capt. Dennis Jones and a team responded, eventually getting in touch with San Dimas Raptor Rescue of the Los Angeles County Parks Department.
After LA County Parks’ San Dimas Raptor Rescue Team helped stabilize Jackie, the eagle was transferred to a “specialized rehabilitation facility.”
Jackie had not been spotted for several days before rescue
Before her rescue, Jackie had not been spotted for several days in her nest, which is livestreamed online, according to the nonprofit. She and her partner, Shadow, have garnered fans over several years as they have watched the bald eagle couple raise their young in Big Bear Valley, a 15-mile-long valley in the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California.
The livestream began in 2016, according to USA TODAY’s previous reporting. Fans have supported the eagle parents for years and watched as they continue to return to Big Bear Valley to create their nests and welcome eaglets.
Sandy and Luna fledged the nest in June and took flight for the first time at the beginning of June. Sandy left after she had an accidental fledge when she fell from the nest, and Luna fledged the nest the day after.
Fans of the animals can tune in to see if the eaglets return on the Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam Facebook page, or watch live on the Organization’s website or YouTube channel.
Watch the Eagle Nest live
Contributing: Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAY
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.