Live updates: Big Bear bald eagle Jackie remains in critical condition after blood transfusion

Medical teams have been working around the clock to treat and diagnose Jackie's mystery illness, but she remains in critical condition. Dr. Mike Higgins helped treat the beloved bald eagle. He spoke to ABC7 about the specialized care she's been receiving.

Spirit, the resident eagle at CALM Zoo in Bakersfield, gave a vital blood donation to Jackie. After helping a fellow female eagle in need, doctors gave Spirit some extra trout as a treat.

Following the blood transfusion, Jackie underwent a meticulously-planned CAT scan.

"She was very calm and handled very carefully throughout the procedure," said Dr. Higgins, a neurologist with the Veterinary Medical and Surgery Group in Ventura

Higgins said the Ojai Raptor Center staff brought Jackie to his practice Wednesday. Like many famous celebrities of her stature, she was secretly escorted in.

"They came through the back door. We were prepared and ready for their arrival," he said.

The specialized equipment took a thousand images in just a minute to figure out why Jackie experienced severe anemia and kidney inflammation.

"Luckily, they were able to rule out lead intoxication, which is a leading cause of illness and death in eagles," Higgins said..

So for now, the search for a cause continues.

This morning at Jackie and Shadow's nest near Big Bear lake, there was tranquility after days full of drama.

Two younger eagles caught on video in an altercation with Jackie. After her rescue, Friends of Big Bear Valley posted on social media that one of those birds may have been the one seen sitting in a tree with Jackie's mate Shadow.

Dr. Higgins is glad to have played a key role in Jackie's care because like many following these bald eagles, he too wants a fairytale ending.

"Our hope right now is that she makes a full recovery and can be rehabilitated back to her nest and to shadow," he said.

Medical teams have been working around the clock to treat Jackie as she remains in critical condition. A doctor who helped treat her spoke to ABC7.

Friends of Big Bear Valley announced that the $10 million needed to preserve Moon Camp, a 63-acre forested open space and shoreline in Big Bear used by the beloved bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, has been secured.

The nonprofit launched a grassroots fundraising campaign in mid-February to stop a planned luxury housing development that called for 50 custom homes and marina. According to the organization, more than 25,000 donations raised nearly half of the funds needed. The campaign reached its goal after Anna and Greg Brockman contributed more than $5.5 million.

Greg Brockman is the president of OpenAI.

The funding clears the way for the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) to purchase the property, with remaining funds expected to cover closing costs, taxes, legal fees and ongoing land maintenance.

"We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow's wellbeing along with nature," said Jenny Voisard, spokesperson for Friends of Big Bear Valley and fundraising lead.

Friends of Big Bear Valley said it has worked for 25 years to protect the property for bald eagles and other wildlife. The organization said preserving the parcel will benefit Jackie and Shadow during nesting season and maintain an ecological corridor important to the region's biodiversity.

Moon Camp is the only undisturbed shoreline remaining on the lake.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors received more than 5,000 emails opposing the development project before approving it in September, according Friends of Big Bear Valley. Local residents had opposed the development for decades.

The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust plans to complete the property purchase by July 31, 2026.

The organization also noted that before her death, Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley and a board member of the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust, helped negotiate the agreement with the property owners. Protecting the property was her highest priority, according to the group.

The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust plans to preserve Moon Camp permanently.

A fellow female eagle named Spirit came to Jackie's aid in her critical time of need.

Jackie continues to receive specialized treatment after she was found on the ground near Big Bear Lake following a fight with other eagles.

In addition to the network of veterinary teams working on Jackie's case, the eagle received help from an unexpected source: a fellow eagle.

Spirit is a resident at CALM Zoo in Bakersfield and has called the facility home since May 2003, when she was transferred from another wildlife rehabilitation facility after being rescued by Animal Control.

At that time, CALM Zoo says Spirit "was found unable to fly due to wing fractures, was severely emaciated, had been scavenging for food, and had suffered trauma to her right eye. After a lengthy healing process, Spirit was determined to be non-releasable because of the long-term effects of her injuries."

Since then, Spirit has been a staple resident at the zoo, helping educate visitors about California's native wildlife.

The senior director of CALM Zoo said Spirit was carefully evaluated before donating blood to Jackie.

Meg Maitland described the process used to determine whether Spirit was a suitable donor.

"Essentially, you look at our records we go through and make sure weight wise and health wise that Spirit would be good to go to be able to draw blood from and that was determined that she was good to go, and it was going to have a minimal impact on her and so between our veterinarian teams they decided the amount," Maitland said.

The zoo described the procedure as "a minimally invasive blood draw" from Spirit.

Volunteers from the Ojai Raptor Center then traveled to Bakersfield to retrieve the blood and transport it back for Jackie.

"After her quick procedure, Spirit was rewarded with some extra trout for doing her part to help another eagle in need," the zoo said on social media.

Maitland said she has been encouraged by the outpouring of support Jackie has received from people across the country.

In a sweet coincidence, one of Jackie and Shadow's eaglets that hatched in 2022 was named Spirit by local 3rd graders.

The Ojai Raptor Center said tests have ruled out lead poisoning and the presence of foreign objects as possible causes of Jackie's condition.

"Her kidney inflammation also appears to have improved, the eagle continues to perch and eat, and there is slight improvement in her energy," said Eliza Cameron of the Ojai Raptor Center.

For now, wildlife officials say Jackie continues to receive treatment as veterinarians work to identify the cause of her illness and monitor her recovery.