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.
One of the fake images of Jackie that has spread online. Image: Ojai Raptor Center.
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.
“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.
“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.
Jackie and Shadow’s 2026 babies: Everything you need to know
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.
On May 1, FOBBV announced the chicks’ names: Sandy and Luna.
How long will the chicks stay in the nest?
Chicks usually stay in the nest until 10 to 14 weeks of age.
What challenges do the eaglets face?
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.
During fledging, only 70 percent of eaglets survive. One of the greatest threats is from cars that can injure or kill the birds while they scavenge for food on roadkill.
Who are Jackie and Shadow?
The pair first got together in 2018 and successfully raised chicks in 2019 and 2022. However, their eggs failed to hatch in 2023 and 2024. Only 50 percent of eagle eggs successfully hatch, so this pair has already beaten the odds.
What happened to Jackie and Shadow’s 2025 eaglets?
In 2025, Jackie laid three eggs that all hatched in early March. On March 13, a strong snowstorm dumped up to two feet of snow and battered the nest with strong winds. Only two of the chicks were visible on the live cam when the storm passed by the next morning. FOBBV later confirmed the passing of one of the chicks. The two surviving chicks were later named Sunny and Gizmo after 54,000 names were submitted by fans.
What happens after chicks fledge?
Young eagles usually fledge–or leave the nest and fly–when they can flatten their wings and have feathers capable of flight. This typically occurs when the birds hit 10 to 14 weeks of age. Males also tend to take their first flight a little sooner than females.
According to FOBBV, fledglings from Southern California have been spotted as far south as Baja California, as far north as British Columbia, and as far east as Yellowstone National Park.
About 70 percent of bald eagles survive the fledgling stage. FOBBV does not tag their eagles, so it’s not possible to follow the chicks’ journeys after they flee the nest.
How can I help Jackie and Shadow?
FOBBV accepts donations to support its conservation efforts in the area. The organization recently reached a goal of raising $10 million to purchase land around Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. A $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman pushed the fundraiser to its goal ahead of a deadline. Greg Brockman is the co-founder and President of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Before the Brockmans’ donation, more than 25,000 donations had raised almost half of the necessary funds.
You can help the rescue organization nursing Jackie back to health by donating to Ojai Raptor Center’s Bald Eagle Recovery Campaign.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Popular Science’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
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