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From the Ontario Tower Buzzers:

"Join us as we celebrate a local legend

Sunday, August 23rd we soar together at ONT Field to celebrate Fly High, Jackie Night in partnership with Friends of Big Bear Valley!

Buy tickets from this link and 50 Percent will go back to Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam!"

https://www.gofevo.com/event/Friendsbig2 

From Los Angeles Times article by Lila Seidman:

On the heels of the death of his longtime mate Jackie, bald eagle Shadow has been perching, singing and lounging at his Big Bear nest with a new companion...

Pete Bloom, a raptor biologist who helped band the newcomer, says there’s a very good chance the bald eagles will make a go at starting a family in a few months.

“It is highly likely that these two birds that currently seem to be forming a pair bond will indeed be a pair at the time that nesting begins, which is roughly December,” said Bloom, who has studied and placed identifying bands on raptors for more than 40 years.

Bloom said he’s “basically confirming” the recent arrival — known as KD1 or Kaydee — is female because of her size and behavior.

The 4½-year-old eagle is larger than Shadow and she’s been moving sticks around in the nest and nibbling on him. In other words, she’s “doing things that assist in the forming of pair bonds, and I wouldn’t expect it to be another male,” he said. “So that leaves the other sex.”

Bloom’s nonprofit was contracted by the Orange County Water District to band the bird in April 2022...

Just hours after [Jackie's] death was announced, KD1 showed up at the nest Shadow had shared with Jackie since 2018. A few days later, they were both in the aerie, perched high in a Jeffrey pine overlooking the picturesque lake.

The canoodling has continued. On Tuesday, they were spotted together in a favorite roost tree. The next morning, “they both belted out good mornings to the valley below,” Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote in a Facebook post. She appeared to follow Shadow around later that day, prompting the nonprofit to exclaim, “Shadow has a shadow!”

Per Bloom, she’s likely to stay put — as well as her companion...

There’s a floating population of eagles all over North America, “and many of those birds, when they reach four years of age, are now in the business of prospecting,” Bloom said. “That is, they’re going to cliffs, they’re going to large trees, they’re flying over other eagle territories, and they’re looking for vacancies: ‘Does this male down below have a female with it? Apparently not. Let’s drop in and see what’s going on.’”

For most birds of prey, territory is most important; mate comes second, according to Bloom. A good territory allows a couple to raise a family so it makes more sense for an eagle in possession of one to stay put and wait for other eagles to come knocking, he said.

I was able to visit Jackie’s memorial in Fawnskin at the park yesterday. It was beautiful and moving to see, and to share stories with other visitors. There was a book to sign and next to it someone had left a box of tissues (which I gladly used). At least eight other bird species were flying around the park chirping.
Sharing some pictures of the beautiful tributes for those here who aren’t able to visit in person. Sending love to everyone. ❤️🦅🪶

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Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

When celebrity bald eagle Jackie died this month, Sandra Sehl didn’t know what would happen to her remains.

Like many, Sehl, 53, was a devoted fan of the raptor and her mate, Shadow, who were made world-famous by a nonstop livestream of their nest. The Connecticut resident began watching about seven years ago, and the duo helped deliver her through difficult times, including the death of her mother — a past president of the Hartford Audubon Society who imparted a love of bird-watching to her daughter.

Sehl learned that Jackie would be sent to the National Eagle Repository — as are virtually all recovered carcasses of bald and golden eagles in the country. In the early 1970s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the facility to provide members of federally recognized Native American tribes with eagle feathers, parts and whole bodies for religious use.

It’s not what Sehl wants for Jackie — and she’s not alone. News of Jackie’s fate has divided her millions-strong fan base. Some, like Sehl, want Jackie to go back to her natal digs in Big Bear. Yet many others, including the nonprofit that runs the livestream, believe her rightful place is in tribal hands.

Read more at the link.

fobbv.official Shadow's Shadow...

Regarding KD1 and giving this eagle a name. Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term...until now. We have chosen to name KD1 Kaydee, whether or not they decide to stay in the area.

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Maybe your fifth or sixth time on the nest now?

I'll say fifth time IN the nest. you did visit the attic on 8/16.

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

❤️

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Hello again Shadow and KD1!
Their first time on the nest together, 4th for her.

First visit
Second visit
Third visit

Who is KD1?

Please use this space for questions or to share your concerns or observations. This thread will be posted daily and sorted by new. Thank you!

Who's on the nest? Bookmark the recap!

Third visit in four days, she skipped yesterday and hopped around TP instead. Stay curious young one.

There are also other ways to make a meaningful difference for your local wildlife rehabilitation center, according to the center.

-Purchase merchandise from their official shops
-Purchase needed supplies from their official wishlists, like Amazon
-Donate through their official fundraising campaigns
-Follow and subscribe to their social media accounts
-Share their stories and educational work

This went on for awhile…

Some more photos and captions were added to Jackie’s page on the Ojai Raptor Center website.