Fans Remember Jackie the Eagle, Who Became a Social Media Star Worldwide: ‘Regal, Fierce, Deeply Devoted’

Jackie the bald eagle, who became an internet sensation through a decade-long livestream from her nest above Big Bear, California, died on Monday after several weeks in intensive care. The webcam, which followed Jackie and her partner Shadow, amassed 822,000 YouTube subscribers and over a million Facebook followers, and her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and public figures, drawing comparisons to the widespread mourning seen after the death of Los Angeles mountain lion P-22 in 2022.

Jackie, believed to be around 14 years old, was found grounded in July following a fight with younger eagles and had been suffering from anaemia before her death. She had recently hatched two eaglets, Sandy and Luna, who fledged the nest in April. The Ojai Raptor Center, which treated her, said the decision-making throughout her care was guided by medical evidence and her welfare. Tributes came from actress Holly Robinson Peete and California senator Adam Schiff, while fans are now watching to see whether Shadow will take a new partner.