Bearcam livestream draws millions
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Jackie, beloved bald eagle livestream star, died Aug 10 at age 14 after mysterious illness. Millions who watched her nest now mourn and watch for a new mate.
Background
Jackie was a bald eagle at Big Bear Lake, California, whose nest was livestreamed by Friends of Big Bear Valley since 2015. She became a global celebrity as millions watched her raise eaglets. In mid-July, she was found weak and unable to fly after a scuffle with younger eagles, and was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment. She died early Monday morning, Aug 10, 2026, after a weeks-long battle with a mysterious illness.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2015Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a webcam on the nest, which was then inhabited by Jackie's parents Ricky and Lucy.
- mid-July 2026Jackie was found weak, disheveled, and unable to fly on the north shore of Big Bear Lake following a scuffle with two younger eagles.
- Aug 10, 2026Jackie died early in the morning at the Ojai Raptor Center after weeks of treatment for a mysterious illness. The center announced her death in an Instagram post.
- Aug 14, 2026Shadow, Jackie's mate, was seen with a new eagle named KD1 at the nest, sparking speculation about a new match.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie's remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and they will provide more information later.
- Public
- One Facebook user wrote, 'perhaps this new eagle was sent from Jackie as a sign to Shadow that she crossed the rainbow bridge and it was okay for him to move on.'
- Expert
- Wildlife biologist Jenna Carpenter said of KD1, 'this bird looks like a big bird, which would lean female.'
Still unverified
The cause of Jackie's illness and death has not been confirmed; the raptor center said it will release test results later. Speculation about KD1 being a female and a potential new mate for Shadow is based on visual observation and not confirmed.