With Big Bear eagle ailing, OpenAI co-founder drops $5.5M to buy land near nest

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Set us as preferred With Big Bear eagle Jackie suffering from an unknown malady in intensive care for nearly a week, fans of the Internet-famous bird and her mate Shadow were sorely in need of a silver lining — and just got one.On Friday, Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that monitors the eagles, announced that OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna donated $5.5 million to a fundraiser to buy land slated for development near the pair’s nest.The infusion of cash means the fundraising goal of $10 million is met.“I’m so happy for this,” said Jenny Voisard, website and media manager for Friends of Big Bear Valley.“I think we needed a little bit of good news given Jackie’s situation.”The Brockmans are among the thousands across the globe who have watched Jackie and Shadow bond and raise chicks via webcams installed by the nonprofit, Anna Brockman said in a statement.“They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature,” she said.

“We are proud to be supportive.”The nonprofit has long maintained that the land — reportedly the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake’s shoreline — represents critical foraging habitat for the eagles.Last September, the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors approved a 50-home and 55-slip marina project on it called Moon Camp, with county officials saying it wouldn’t harm the raptors.While the nonprofit is best known for turning Jackie and Shadow into celebrities by livestreaming their nest, it grew out of an effort to stop the same project 25 years ago.

In February, it launched an ambitious fundraiser to prevent the development once and for all.Climate & Environment As supporters honor late Friends of Big Bear Valley leader Sandy Steers, the nonprofit races to raise millions to protect what it says is vital foragin...