More than a thousand fans shed sad tears and reminisced about fond memories as they celebrated the life of a beloved reality star in Big Bear on Saturday.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe told attendees that Jackie was a teacher, a mother, a good neighbor and an ambassador who “brought us together” during a time of division.
She also has feathers.
This unknown celebrity is a bald eagle, and over the years, millions have watched her raise her chicks and bond with her mate, Shadow, in a non-stop live broadcast of their nest, perched in a Jeffrey pine tree overlooking Big Bear Lake.
In January 2023, Jackie, Big Bear Lake’s beloved bald eagle, laid her first egg.
(Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Mid-July, Jackie Found weak, disheveled and unable to fly On the north shore of the lake after a scuffle with two young eagles. She was rescued and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center, where experts treated her until her death the next month.
Her unexpected death saddened fans around the world.
Some at the memorial were relieved to see so many like-minded believers coming to the tranquil mountain location to remember the avian matriarch. The crowd was packed with Jackie hats and T-shirts, as well as at least one stuffed bald eagle. Dan McKernan, who handles media relations for the event, estimated that about 2,000 people attended.
Jackie the Eagle in an undated photo.
(Friends of Big Bear Valley)
Local business owner Doria Rone cried throughout the two-hour event. A self-described die-hard Eagles fan, she said she knew the livestream was popular but “had no idea how popular it was in my own community.”
“It’s so sincere,” said Ron, 63. “I met people lining up from Los Angeles and Texas, and I said, ‘Oh, this is for Jackie.’ So I cried tears of joy, too.”
Big Bear community members and neighbors admire a painting by artist Jillana Marshall on display at a memorial event at Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear on Saturday.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Michael Lichtman, 59, a longtime livestreamer, was glad he drove up from Carlsbad and experienced the camaraderie.
“Who would have thought that an eagle in its nest would bring us here with so many strangers?” he said. “So we just wanted to be a part of it. I feel really good about it and a lot of good finishes associated with it.”
An attendee brought their stuffed bald eagle to a memorial event at Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Jackie had admirers in high places. Event speakers included local, state and federal officials, many of whom described an eagle that inspired conservation awareness and created a lasting legacy.
San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Danielle “DD” Harrison recalled an interview with The Times during her first week on the job. She was taken aback when the second or third question was about what she thought of the eagles, rather than how she planned to manage the forest.
“That was the first day I realized and recognized how important and special you, Jackie and Shadow, are, and I began to look at you with adoration,” she said.
There are still many unknowns about what led to Jackie’s death.
Chris Eckstine, CEO of the Ojai Bird of Prey Center, said the fight may have grounded Jackie, but it did not cause her to develop symptoms. Tests showed her have severe anemiaresulting in a blood transfusion from another eagle.
Despite a series of tests, including contrast CT scans and bone marrow biopsies, experts were still unable to determine exactly what caused her critical condition. Autopsy results are pending.
Jackie’s death was a devastating turn in what had been a roller coaster year. In late January, Jackie’s first clutch of eggs was eaten by crows. The next month, the community was dealt another blow when Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of the Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit behind the livestream, died.
In March 2025, Jackie was feeding her two chicks, one of whose eggs had not yet hatched. Big Bear Bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow welcomed two cubs.
(Friends of Big Bear Valley)
But there is also victory and joy. Jackie laid new eggs that hatched over the Easter weekend. Shortly before Jackie became ill, chicks Sandy and Luna successfully grew feathers.
The new year is not over yet, a new chapter is already being written.
In early August, while Jackie was in intensive care, a female eagle was first seen on a camera operated by Friends of the Big Bear Valley. The lavender band on her leg identified her as “KD1,” and the nonprofit later nicknamed her “Kaydee.”
She hasn’t left yet. The nearly 5-year-old eagle perches and sings with Shadow, who was first paired with Jackie in 2018. According to a Friends of Big Bear Valley Facebook post, they are even developing a routine: spending the night in the branches of their roosting trees, then following each other in flight at dawn.