Jackie, the female bald eagle made famous with a livestream from Big Bear Valley in California, has died, the raptor center caring for her announced Monday.
The news was announced on social media by Ojai Raptor Center, which has cared for the eagle since she was found suffering from severe anemia and other injuries last month.
“It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519 passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care,” the announcement said.
“Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit.”
Her remains have been given to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the post. It’s unclear what will happen to them, but since taking Jackie in, the Ojai Raptor Center has had to plead with the public to refrain from emailing, calling and showing up to check on the eagle’s condition.
Jackie and her mate, Shadow, have been among the most popular stars of the genre known as “nest cams” since Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a camera in 2015 on a pine tree overlooking Big Bear Lake, in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California.
Millions have watched the pair care for their eggs, and later eaglets, in nerve-wracking conditions, including high wind and heavy snow. Last year, one of three eaglets died, and viewers watched while the parents appeared to grieve.
As chronicled on the Friends of Big Bear Valley website, “Shadow pulled a deceased chick out of the nest bowl and placed it on the side of the nest; it was our first visual confirmation that it had passed. Jackie appeared to have had difficulty with what was happening, and she uncharacteristically stayed away from the nest for hours at a time. Shadow picked up her ‘shifts’ while she got some space. When Jackie returned she checked for herself that the chick had died and then she flew it off the nest and for a forest burial.”
The couple’s last two offspring left the nest, apparently for good, in July.
On Monday afternoon, nearly 4,000 people were watching the livestream, even though the nest was empty at the time of this writing.
On the group’s Facebook page, people were leaving condolences, with some suggesting that donations be made to raptor and other wildlife rescue centers in Jackie’s honor.
Meanwhile, Shadow seems to already be moving on. A young eagle has been spotted in his company, KTLA in Los Angeles has reported.
