Bald Eagle Jackie Update: As video of gruesome fight emerges, the latest on the health of the birds at the Ojai Raptor Center – Watch
While Jackie, the beloved Great Bear Bald Eagle, continued receiving intensive treatment Thursday, her long-time mate Shadow was spotted spending time with another female eagle near Twin Pines territory.
Found the shadow of another female eagle
On Wednesday, Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) shared a photo showing Shadow perched in a tree next to a nearby subadult eagle. Volunteers believe the young eagle may be the female who briefly clashed with Jackie before she was rescued.
“Looks like Shadow has a lot to say about the subadults that live in the roost trees,” FOBBV wrote in an update Wednesday evening.
Shadows keep intruders away; battle video surfaces
Despite the unexpected sightings, the nonprofit stresses that Shadow remains focused on caring for and protecting Sandy and Luna while Jackie is away recovering.
According to FOBBV, he continued to defend the nest from several wandering subadult vultures (birds under the age of five) that had recently entered the area.
The group also notes that Luna recently appeared to be helping protect the territory by chasing away an intruding eagle.
Meanwhile, Sandy and Luna became increasingly adventurous, traveling deeper into their habitat and away from the nest cameras for extended periods of time. Even so, the two young eagles continued to return to the nest every day.
Will Shadow wait for Jackie?
Many longtime viewers of the famous pair of eagles have expressed concern that Shadow may abandon the nest while Jackie remains in hospital. However, FOBBV said it consulted an eagle expert who believed this was unlikely to happen given the unusually strong connection between the two.
According to ABC 7 , experts explain that a shadow won’t look for another mate until its reproductive hormones become active, which usually happens around the end of December or early January.
Vet monitors Jackie closely
Jackie remains in intensive care at the Ojai Birds of Prey Center, and wildlife experts continue to call her condition “very serious.” Veterinarians believe she was already sick before witnesses saw her being attacked by two young vultures last week.
In providing another medical update, the center said, “Wildlife medicine takes time, and some answers simply cannot be rushed. As we learn more about this patient’s condition, we will continue to share meaningful updates with you.”
Although Jackie was alert and continued to feed herself, the veterinarian reported that she was battling severe anemia and kidney inflammation. More lab tests are still pending as doctors work to determine the underlying cause of her illness.
