Big Bear bald eagle Jackie's life celebrated at Ontario Tower Buzzers game

The life of Big Bear bald eagle Jackie was celebrated during Sunday's Ontario Tower Buzzers game, where thousands paid homage to the beloved raptor that died earlier this month. 

The Tower Buzzers, the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, organized the "Fly High, Jackie Night" in partnership with Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit organization that orchestrated the 24/7 nest cameras in 2015, offering a daily look at Jackie's life with her partner Shadow above Big Bear Lake. 

During the game, the team showed clips of the bald eagle family, including some of their newest eaglets, Sandy and Luna. Signs reading "Fly High, Jackie" were spotted on screens around ONT Field and a plane spelled out the message in the sky over the stadium. 

"This eagle has been a part of people's families and classrooms, not just here in California or the country, but all over the world," said Alan Benavides, the General Manager of the Tower Buzzers. "It's insane the amount of outpouring of love that this beautiful bird has given, not only to Friends of Big Bear Valley, but to our community."

The Tower Buzzers said that 50% of ticket proceeds would be donated to FOBBV.  Team officials estimated that more than $10,000 was raised on Sunday, when the Tower Buzzers soared to a steep 11-1 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers.

"It's good to unplug and to go back to nature and seeing what, I believe, that eagle represents — that's freedom and peace," said Tower Buzzers fan Ruben Valencia. "I really enjoyed following her journey."

Jackie died on August 9 after weeks of uncertainty surrounding her health. She was found to be very sick in July after she was attacked by two subadult eagles on the shore of the lake. After her rescue, she underwent intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center, where a team of experts worked to identify the mystery illness that eventually led to her death.