Bird flu kills California bald eagle that was monitored online

Bird flu was identified as the primary cause of death for a bald eagle named Jackie, officials said. A necropsy and additional testing conducted by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance determined that highly pathogenic avian influenza led to a severe stomach ulcer, internal bleeding, anemia and bacterial sepsis, which ultimately killed the bird in August.

Jackie had been receiving treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center for various health issues, including anemia, before she died. > "The necropsy results have helped connect many of the findings we saw during her hospitalization," said Chris Eksteen, director of the center.

The eagle and her mate, Shadow, had been monitored since 2015 by a nest-camera installed by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, allowing the public to watch their breeding activities each year near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Officials noted that while waterfowl and shorebirds are natural reservoirs for avian influenza, raptors such as eagles can become infected through contact with or consumption of infected birds. Jackie's remains were cremated to prevent further spread of the virus.

Bald eagles, once near extinction due to DDT and other threats, have recovered enough to be removed from the federal endangered species list, but the recent case highlights ongoing risks from wildlife diseases.