A Community Says Goodbye to Jackie the Eagle

Big Bear's beloved bald eagle, Jackie, was celebrated at a special night at ONT Field on Sunday, Aug. 23, when the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hosted the "Fly High, Jackie" event in partnership with the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. Thousands of fans gathered to honor the raptor, who died earlier this month after rising to internet stardom through the 24/7 nest cameras that FOBBV has operated since 2015, offering a daily look at Jackie's life with her partner, Shadow, above Big Bear Lake.

The team showed clips of Jackie's family—including eaglets Sandy and Luna—during the game, and signs reading "Fly High, Jackie" appeared on screens around the stadium. A plane even spelled out the message in the sky above the field, while some fans went home with "Fly High, Jackie" t-shirts provided by the clubhouse.

An Outpouring of Love

General Manager Alan Benavides said the event was a way to give the community a place to celebrate Jackie's life. As reported by CBS News, Benavides remarked, "This eagle has been a part of people's families and classrooms, not just here in California or the country, but all over the world. It's insane the amount of outpouring of love that this beautiful bird has given, not only to Friends of Big Bear Valley, but to our community."

A fan at the game, Ruben Valencia, echoed that sentiment, telling CBS News, "It's good to unplug and to go back to nature and seeing what, I believe, that eagle represents—that's freedom and peace. I really enjoyed following her journey."

Fundraising for the Nonprofit

The event was organized in partnership with Friends of Big Bear Valley, the environmental nonprofit behind the livestream cameras. Both CBS News and the Santa Ana Orange County Register reported that 50% of ticket proceeds from a donation link went to FOBBV. CBS News said team officials estimated more than $10,000 was raised on game day, while the Orange County Register provided a precise figure of $10,252, adding that more would come from presales of "Fly High, Jackie!" shirts through the donation link.

A Community Watching and a Team Winning

The Buzzers also rolled to an 11-1 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers at the game, providing a bright ending to an evening of tribute.

Jackie's Final Weeks

Jackie's death, though mourned, came after a period of medical care. In mid-July, she was found grounded for hours after a fight with two younger eagles, as reported by the Orange County Register. She received treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center in Ventura County for almost a month until her passing. The Center said Jackie had been suffering from large blood clots in both wings and a kidney, but there is still no word on the cause of death.

TM. Benavides said it was an honor to help celebrate Jackie's life, adding, "As caretakers of the Inland Empire community, we wanted to provide those who were touched by Jackie and Shadow's story with a place to celebrate Jackie's life at our game."

Perspectives

  • Ontario Tower Buzzers: The team, represented by General Manager Alan Benavides, views the event as a way to serve the community and honor Jackie's global impact, while also using the game as a fundraiser for the nonprofit that documented her life.
  • Friends of Big Bear Valley: Though not individually quoted, the nonprofit's role as the organization behind the livestream cameras positions it as a key steward of Jackie's legacy, benefiting directly from the event's proceeds.
  • Fans: Fan Ruben Valencia expressed the personal and emotional connection that viewers felt to Jackie, emphasizing the eagle's symbolic representation of freedom and peace.