As bald eagle Jackie receives treatment, her family guards their nest

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As Jackie the bald eagle remains in rehab after she was involved in an "altercation" with two eagles visiting the area, her family continues to protect the nest she built with her partner, Shadow.On Wednesday, July 22, the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley stated that the Ojai Raptor Center, the rehabilitation center where Jackie is being cared for, did not have an update on how the eagle is doing."I know that is difficult to hear, but they did say Jackie has a team of specialists working on her case," the nonprofit said in a post on Facebook.Jackie, known for appearing on Big Bear Valley's Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, has garnered fans across the globe who have been following her journey and watching her grow her family.In a separate post, the center stated that Jackie is in critical condition and is "experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys." The raptor is also underweight. The center is waiting for test results and is working to determine the cause of her symptoms. The team is also offering the raptor supportive treatment.Despite the severity of her case, Jackie remains alert and is eating, the center stated.As Jackie undergoes treatment, her partner, Shadow, and children, Sandy and Luna, are protecting the nest.Luna chases away eagles from the nestLuna, Jackie's son, who hatched at the beginning of April, chased away an intruding eagle from the nest before spending some time with his dad, Shadow, and sister, Sandy, the nonprofit stated on Facebook.Shadow has also been seen protecting the nest from subadult eagles in the area, and has continued feeding and protecting Luna and Sandy while Jackie is away.Will Shadow move on from his bond with Jackie?Bald eagles do mate for life, according to the Audubon Society. The eagles will remain together and continue to mate until one of them dies. So what will happen to Jackie and Shadow while Jackie is away? Friends of Big Bear Valley addressed in its latest post.Due to the strong bond Shadow and Jackie share, it is "unlikely" he will look for a new mate until his hormones begin to kick in, which usually happens around the end of December or the beginning of January, per the nonprofit."We do have to realize he is a wild and free eagle, and it is up to Shadow what direction he goes," Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote.What happened to Big Bear's beloved bald eagle Jackie?On Friday, July 17, an eagle, now confirmed to be Jackie, was seen in an "altercation" with two subadult eagles, according to the Friends of Big Bear Valley."Cell phone video confirmed that the adult was able to fend off the other eagles by turning over and using its talons, but was unable to fly far away," the nonprofit stated on Facebook.While the eagle was able to defend itself, it did not get far and was seen on the ground near Dana Point Park, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Video posted to Facebook by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation shows the eagle moving through a body of water.The nonprofit said the public tried "contacting several agencies for help with no response," until one individual reported the situation to the local San Bernardino County fire station in Fawnskin, where Capt. Dennis Jones and a team responded, eventually getting in touch with San Dimas Raptor Rescue of the Los Angeles County Parks Department.After LA County Parks' San Dimas Raptor Rescue Team helped stabilize Jackie, the eagle was transferred to a "specialized rehabilitation facility."Jackie had not been spotted for several days before rescueBefore her rescue, Jackie had not been spotted for several days in her nest, which is livestreamed online, according to the nonprofit. She and her partner, Shadow, have garnered fans over several years as they have watched the bald eagle couple raise their young in Big Bear Valley, a 15-mile-long valley in the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California.The livestream began in 2016, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. Fans have supported the eagle parents for years and watched as they continue to return to Big Bear Valley to create their nests and welcome eaglets.The two became empty nesters after their eaglets, Sandy and Luna, left the nest in June. Sandy left after she had an accidental fledge when she fell from the nest, and Luna fledged the nest the day after.Fans of the animals can tune in to see if the eaglets return on the Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam Facebook page, or watch live on the Organization's website or YouTube channel.Contributing: Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAYJulia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram