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As internet-famous bald eagle mother Jackie continues her treatment for anemia, well wishes keep pouring in from around the globe. She is beloved by millions, but some new challenges are arising for the wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centers that take care of injured animals, including the Ojai Raptor Center.
The center currently taking care of Jackie (aka Bald Eagle 26-519) is asking the public to avoid sharing misinformation from unverified sources and fake AI-generated photos. Rumors can spread across the internet quickly, and then be accepted as fact before accurate information is available.Â
The center is also facing constant requests for updates, as the desire for news about this beloved eagle is outpacing the actual hard work of getting her back to health.Â
“While these actions are often driven by genuine concern, they can create significant distractions for the very people whose attention needs to remain on patient care,” the center writes. “Wildlife medicine requires concentration, careful decision making, and often long hours of uninterrupted work. Every unnecessary interruption takes time and focus away from the animals depending on us.”
The center vows to continue sharing meaningful updates when they have accurate information to share.Â
“We will always make decisions based on science and what is best for our patients, not what generates the next headline,” they write.
As Jackie and her partner Shadow’s popularity has grown online, numerous accounts have sprung up, claiming to have the latest information on the popular livestream duo. The official account to follow is the Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) Facebook page, and any information you see online about Jackie, Shadow, or their eaglets should always be verified from FOBBV. The same advice goes for only sharing information from the Ojai Raptor Center’s official page.
This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates only as they become available from the Ojai Raptor Center and FOBBV.Â
It’s been another roller coaster nesting season for Jackie and Shadow, a pair of internet-famous bald eagle parents living in San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California. After two of their eggs were destroyed by ravens in January, Jackie and Shadow laid two new eggs that have successfully hatched.
Chick 1 hatched on April 4 at 9:33 p.m. PDT, while Chick 2 followed on April 5 at 8:30 a.m. Their large nest in Big Bear Valley east of Los Angeles is livestreamed 24 hours a day by nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) and has captivated millions.Â
On May 1, FOBBV announced the chicks’ names: Sandy and Luna.
Chicks usually stay in the nest until 10 to 14 weeks of age.
Before leaving the nest, the chicks face threats from other birds of prey, including hawks, ravens, other eagles, and owls. Inclement weather can also present challenges for the chicks. In 2025, a March snowstorm resulted in the death of one of Jackie and Shadow’s three chicks.