Big Bear Bald Eagle Jackie Lays First Egg of 2026—Watch the Adorable Live-Cam Moment

For nearly a decade, millions of wildlife lovers around the world watched Jackie, the charismatic female bald eagle of Big Bear Lake, raise clutch after clutch on the Friends of Big Bear Valley live-stream. When the 13-year-old raptor was found grounded and lethargic on July 29 and died in rehabilitation on August 8, the sudden loss left a hole in the webcam’s sky-high soap opera. This week, officials finally released Jackie’s necropsy, confirming that she succumbed primarily to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) complicated by kidney failure and systemic bacterial infection. What the necropsy reveals • HPAI, the same strain sweeping through North American raptors, caused severe pneumonia and neurological damage, making Jackie unable to thermoregulate or fly. • Secondary infections triggered organ failure; veterinarians noted the disease process was “complex and unusual” for an adult eagle that previously appeared robust. • Jackie was humanely euthanized after her condition worsened despite antibiotics, antifungals and supportive care at Ojai Raptor Center. Her remains have been cremated, and feathers retained for educational outreach. Why Jackie mattered Jackie and her lifelong mate, Shadow, hatched nine eaglets under the 24/7 nest cam that routinely drew more than 40 million views a breeding season. Their parenting sagas—eggs buried in spring blizzards, mid-air battles with intruding eagles, and tender beak-to-beak greetings—turned passive bird-watchers into active conservation donors. Local tourism officials credit the pair with a 17 percent winter-season lodging bump as visitors time ski trips to possible hatch days. Community tributes soar Big Bear Lake hosted “Wings Over Big Bear,” a two-day memorial on October 3–4 that drew more than 1,000 people. Fans signed a 20-foot-long banner, children created feather art, and Native American elders led a cedar-smoke blessing for the valley’s new generation of eagles. A solar-powered interpretive kiosk—funded in just 48 hours through small online donations—will tell Jackie’s story on the Alpine Pedal Path overlooking the lake. What’s next for Shadow and the nest cam? Shadow has been spotted visiting the nest almost daily, vocalizing and arranging sticks—behavior experts interpret as territory maintenance and an open invitation to a future mate. While bald eagles typically pair for life, they will bond again if a partner dies. Biologists anticipate increased activity in December when southern California’s breeding season begins. Cam operators have upgraded lenses and infrared lighting to capture any new courtship in high-definition for the 2027 season. Avian flu precautions Wildlife rehabilitators across the West are tightening bio-security: • Mandatory HPAI swabs for every admitted raptor. • Separate air-flow isolation rooms. • Extended glove and boot-bath protocols for volunteers. Officials ask the public to report grounded eagles immediately and to keep domestic poultry vaccinated and away from waterfowl flyways to reduce spillover risk. How you can help 1. Stream the live cam: higher view counts attract sponsorship dollars for nest protection. 2. Donate to raptor centers battling HPAI costs. 3. Advocate for wetland preservation; healthy habitats buffer disease stress in wild birds. Jackie’s death underscores both the fragility and resilience of America’s national bird. As the snow dusts Grays Peak and Shadow circles alone, Big Bear’s skies feel quieter—but the next chapter of this mountain-lake dynasty is already waiting on the wind.