OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle associated with the Big Bear Valley nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinarians are providing round-the-clock care. The center’s latest update said her packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen from 16% to 13%, showing that her anemia had worsened.
Ojai Raptor Center said advanced diagnostic testing and expedited laboratory work were underway. The center has not identified the underlying cause of Jackie’s illness.
What the blood test shows
PCV measures the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. A low PCV indicates anemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Jackie’s PCV had risen from 8% to 16% after a weekend setback, according to the center. At that point, she was eating independently and showing more energy and alertness. The later decline to 13% indicates that the improvement in her blood count did not hold.
The center has also reported inflammation affecting Jackie’s kidneys. Tests ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects, including fishing hooks, lines and weights. The results supplied by the center do not establish whether other suspected causes, such as zinc or rodenticide exposure, were ruled out.
Why the blood transfusion mattered
Jackie received a blood transfusion during treatment. The donated blood came from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
Ojai Raptor Center described the transfusion as an important treatment milestone. Afterward, the center reported that Jackie was eating and perching. Those signs showed some strength, but the center continued to describe her condition as critical.
What happened to Jackie
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team said it rescued an injured bald eagle after a fight with two other eagles and transported the bird to the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai. ABC News reported that the bird was presumed to be Jackie. The available information does not provide definitive identification details.
Jackie was later moved from the intensive-care unit to a regular hospital-care unit after she no longer needed oxygen therapy. Ojai Raptor Center emphasized that the move was an encouraging treatment milestone, not a sign that she had recovered.
The latest update does not say whether Jackie remains in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care after her PCV fell. It also does not provide a prognosis or a possible release date.
What happens next
The veterinary team is continuing to monitor Jackie while testing seeks an explanation for the anemia and kidney inflammation. Until those tests identify the cause and her blood count stabilizes, her condition remains serious.
The case illustrates the work of California’s wildlife-rehabilitation network: a county rescue team transported the injured bird, the Ojai Raptor Center provided specialized veterinary care, and a wildlife facility in Bakersfield supplied blood from another bald eagle. The available updates concern Jackie’s individual medical condition and do not provide evidence about broader changes in California’s bald eagle population or environment.