Bald eagle Jackie ‘more feisty’ during feedings, still in critical condition

Injured internet-famous bald eagle 26-519 (aka Jackie) remains in stable, but critical condition. According to the Ojai Raptor Center’s most recent update, she is receiving round-the-clock treatment and the team is working to pinpoint the underlying cause of her illness. After the team saw some improvement following a blood transfusion, she experienced a setback on July 25, when her blood values declined.

“Since then, she has improved once more. She is eating on her own, her energy and alertness have noticeably improved, and she has become much more feisty during feedings,” the center writes. One encouraging sign is her packed cell volume (PCV), which measures the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Jackie’s PCV has increased from 8 percent before July 25 to 16 percent on July 27. These numbers are still below normal, but the center calls them an “encouraging” improvement. “Despite extensive diagnostic testing and consultation with experienced wildlife veterinarians, we still do not have a definitive diagnosis,” the center explains.

“Cases like this can be incredibly complex, and we will continue adjusting her treatment as new information becomes available.” Back in Big Bear Valley, nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) is also monitoring a sub-adult eagle that likely battled with Jackie. The young eagle has been spotted near Jackie and her partner Shadow’s habitat near Big Bear Lake.

According to Dr. Peter Sharpe, the conservationist and bald eagle expert FOBBV spoke with, the male eagle is about 3.5 years old.

Typically, bald eagles reach full maturity at age five. In some rare cases, they can be ready to mate and lay eggs by age four. Sharpe believes it is still too early for this sub adult eagle to be looking for a mate and/or a place to nest.

Shadow also showed defensive behavior against the sub-adult for several days while this year’s eaglets, Sandy and Luna, were at the nest. However, even though Sandy and Luna’s vocals have possibly been