Big Bear Eagle Habitat Enters First Fall Without Jackie; Shadow Seen With Visiting Banded Eagle

FAWNSKIN / BIG BEAR LAKE NORTH SHORE, Calif. — The Big Bear Valley bald eagle habitat enters a different fall season after the death of Jackie, the female eagle whose nest-camera story became familiar to wildlife watchers around the world.

What state wildlife officials confirmed

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced August 11 that Jackie died during the night of August 9, 2026, while under intensive treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center. Wildlife rehabilitation specialists had worked for several weeks to stabilize the bird after she was found ill. The state notice describes medical complications but should not be reduced to a single unverified cause.

What happened to Shadow?

Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit operating the live nest camera, reported in its August 13 update that Jackie’s longtime partner Shadow had been seen with another bald eagle marked KD1. The organization said the young bird hatched in March 2022 and was seen visiting the nest after Jackie’s death.

Is there a new pair or a new nest?

Neither has been confirmed in the material reviewed for this report. Shared visits and perching may be signs of social interaction, but they do not establish a pair bond or successful future breeding. The nonprofit advised viewers that further observation would be needed as the breeding season approached.

What visitors should know

The northern shore near Fawnskin offers wildlife-viewing opportunities, but the location of an active nest and the animals’ safety take priority over recreation. Do not approach nests, fly drones near eagles, feed wildlife or block private access roads to obtain photographs. Sightings and nesting behavior can change, and no particular eagle is guaranteed to be visible during a visit.

Sources: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, August 11, 2026 announcement; Friends of Big Bear Valley, August 13 nest-camera update. Retrospective wildlife status report, not a claim of a newly confirmed November nesting pair.

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