A beloved bald eagle missing from California's Big Bear Lake for several days has been found alive but injured, according to Friends of Bear Valley, the advocacy group that operates the viral nestcam monitoring the birds.
The female eagle, known as Jackie, disappeared from camera view after a confrontation with two other young eagles. Observers first spotted her on the ground last Thursday, then watched as she engaged in a brief scuffle with the intruding birds on Friday. Cell phone video showed Jackie successfully defended herself by flipping onto her back and using her talons, but she was unable to fly away afterward.
San Dimas Raptor Rescue, a division of the Los Angeles County Parks Foundation, retrieved the injured eagle. Friends of Bear Valley initially withheld confirmation of the bird's identity, noting that observers had not definitively established whether the rescued eagle was Jackie or another visitor to the area.
By Sunday evening, however, the group told KTLA5 that the injured bird is indeed Jackie, one half of a celebrated pair with her mate Shadow. The couple has become internet favorites since taking over an abandoned nest in 2016, with their livestream drawing thousands of viewers who have watched them raise multiple generations of chicks.
Video of the rescued eagle, released by the LA County Parks and Recreation Department, showed the bird bedraggled and limping in water. Follow-up images captured her receiving treatment at a wildlife facility, though specific details about the extent of her injuries remain unclear.
Since Jackie's disappearance, Shadow has stood guard alone at the nest over their two young chicks, Sandy and Luna, who took their first flights just three weeks ago. The pair was expected to be ready to leave the nest within days.
Jackie and Shadow's story has drawn attention beyond bird enthusiasts. Friends of Bear Valley and other groups have been actively opposing Moon Camp, a proposed luxury residential and marina development on the lake's north shore. The project sits adjacent to the eagles' habitat and less than a mile from their nest, raising concerns about ecological disruption.
The group has characterized the area as a critical ecological corridor that supports rare and endangered plants, flying squirrels, migratory birds, and the waterfowl and fish populations essential for the pair to rear their young. Jackie and Shadow remain the only full-time resident bald eagles in the region.
Author James Rodriguez: "Jackie's survival is a relief, but the fact that she's vulnerable to territorial scuffles and development pressure in her own nesting territory should alarm anyone who cares about protecting these birds long-term."
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