Jackie 'brought us together': Fans say goodbye to beloved Big Bear bald eagle

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred More than a thousand fans shed tears of grief and recalled fond memories Saturday in Big Bear as they celebrated the life of a beloved reality star.Jackie was a teacher, a mom, a good neighbor and an ambassador who “brought us together” during divided times, San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe told attendees.She also had feathers.The mononymous celebrity was a bald eagle who, for years, millions watched as she raised chicks and bonded with her mate, Shadow, on a nonstop livestream of their nest, perched high in a Jeffrey pine overlooking Big Bear Lake.In mid-July, Jackie was found weak, disheveled and unable to fly on the north shore of the lake after a scuffle with two younger eagles.She was rescued and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center, where experts treated her until she died the following month.

Climate & Environment Jackie and her mate, Shadow, delighted millions of viewers as stars of a nonstop livestream of their nest, perched high in a Jeffrey pine overlooking Big Bear Lake.Her unexpected passing has left fans around the world grieving.Some at the memorial took solace in seeing so many like-minded devotees come out to the serene mountain setting to remember the avian matriarch.The crowd was a sea of Jackie hats and T-shirts, and at least one bald eagle plushie.

Dan McKernan, who handled media relations for the event, estimated some 2,000 people attended.Doria Rone, a local business owner, cried throughout the two-hour event.A self-described die-hard eagle fan, she said she knew the livestream was popular but “didn’t know how popular it was amongst my own community.”“This is so heartfelt,” Rone, 63, said.

“I met people that came in from L.A.and Texas waiting in line, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is for Jackie.’ So I’m crying with tears of joy too.”Michael Lichtm...