Bald eagle Jackie dies; new eagle spotted in Big Bear nest

The bald eagle Jackie, a well-known resident of Big Bear Valley, has died following a medical battle at the Ojai Raptor Center. After a necropsy by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Jackie’s remains will be sent to the National Eagle Repository. This federal facility distributes eagle parts to federally recognized tribes for ceremonial use and supports conservation education.

Following Jackie’s death, a female bald eagle identified by biologists as KD1 has been spotted near the nest of Jackie’s former mate, Shadow. KD1, a banded bird born in 2022 in the Prado Basin, was recently seen inspecting the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake. While social media speculation suggests she may become Shadow’s new mate, biologists note it is currently not breeding season and it is too early to determine if Shadow will return to the nest to mate.