Jackie, an internet-famous adult bald eagle, is experiencing worsening anemia: her packed cell volume has dropped to 13 percent, prompting urgent diagnostics and treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center. Jackie was found near Dana Point Park after an altercation and admitted two weeks ago. Her 2026 chicks, Sandy and Luna, appear to have fledged; the pair's nest is livestreamed by Friends of Big Bear Valley. Supporters can donate to the Ojai Raptor Center’s Bald Eagle Recovery Campaign to help cover care.
Internet-Famous Bald Eagle Jackie’s Anemia Worsens — PCV Falls to 13%
Jackie in Big Bear Valley on December 13, 2023.
Jackie, the well-known adult bald eagle cared for at the Ojai Raptor Center, is showing signs of worsening anemia: her packed cell volume (PCV) has fallen to 13 percent. Caregivers say the decline occurred over two days and has prompted urgent veterinary intervention.
"Our veterinary team is responding quickly," the center said. "Additional advanced diagnostic testing is now underway, and expedited laboratory testing has been requested as we continue working to better understand her condition and guide the next steps in her treatment."
How Jackie Came Into Care
Jackie was found on the ground near Dana Point Park on July 17 following a brief altercation with two subadult eagles. Cellphone video shows Jackie fended them off using her talons but was unable to fly away on her own. She was admitted to the Ojai Raptor Center two weeks ago, where staff have been monitoring and treating her.
Nest Status And Chicks
At Jackie and Shadow's nest in Big Bear Valley, activity has quieted. Their two 2026 chicks, named Sandy and Luna, hatched on April 4 and April 5 and — according to Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) — appear to have fledged as of August 1, 2026. The pair's large nest is livestreamed 24/7 by FOBBV and draws millions of viewers each season.
Background And Risks
This nesting season has had setbacks: ravens destroyed two eggs in January, and previous seasons included a deadly March 2025 snowstorm that killed one chick after Jackie hatched three chicks in early March 2025. Fledging remains a risky phase — roughly 70 percent of eaglets survive it — and threats include other raptors, severe weather and vehicle strikes when young eagles scavenge along roadways.
Conservation And Support
FOBBV does not tag the birds it livestreams, so exact post-fledging journeys are unknown. FOBBV recently reached a $10 million fundraising goal to buy land around Big Bear Lake, boosted by a $5.5 million gift from Anna and Greg Brockman. Supporters who want to help Jackie’s recovery can donate to the Ojai Raptor Center’s Bald Eagle Recovery Campaign, which is funding her diagnostics and care.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of Popular Science, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025 alleging copyright infringement related to the training and operation of OpenAI’s AI systems.
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