Friends of Big Bear Valley Secures 10 Million Dollars to Protect Moon Camp Habitat for Jackie and Shadow.
The critical lakeside habitat in the San Bernardino Mountains that serves as the primary hunting and nesting ground for the world-famous bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, has been officially saved from future development. On Friday, the non-profit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) announced the successful completion of a massive $10 million fundraising campaign aimed at purchasing a 62-acre parcel of land known as "Moon Camp." This achievement ensures that the pristine forest and shoreline essential to the eagles’ survival will remain protected in perpetuity, ending a decades-long struggle between conservationists and luxury real estate developers.
The campaign reached its ambitious goal just days before a strict July 31 deadline, thanks to a transformative $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman. Greg Brockman is the co-founder and President of OpenAI, and his contribution, alongside his wife Anna, provided the final surge needed to close the gap. Prior to this massive gift, the campaign had already demonstrated remarkable grassroots momentum, with more than 25,000 individual donors from around the globe contributing nearly half of the required funds. These donors, many of whom have followed the eagles for years via a 24/7 live stream, represent a modern era of conservation where digital engagement translates into tangible environmental protection.
The Significance of Moon Camp
Moon Camp is a 62.5-acre stretch of undeveloped land located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. For more than 20 years, the property has been the subject of intense interest from developers who sought to transform the area into a high-end residential community and a private marina. Had these plans come to fruition, the resulting construction noise, habitat fragmentation, and increased human activity would have likely driven the eagles away from their established nest.
The ecological value of Moon Camp extends far beyond its role as a scenic backdrop for the eagle cam. The land sits less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow’s current nest and borders a specific section of Big Bear Lake that is vital for foraging. The eagles rely on this undisturbed shoreline to hunt the fish necessary to sustain themselves and their growing chicks. Furthermore, the property houses an old-growth forest that provides a sanctuary for a diverse array of montane species, including various migratory birds, squirrels, and small mammals.
Perhaps most significantly from a botanical perspective, Moon Camp is home to the ash-gray Indian paintbrush (Castilleja cinerea). This rare and threatened plant species is an endemic perennial herb found only in the pebble plains and rocky outcrops of the San Bernardino Mountains. The preservation of this land ensures that one of the few remaining populations of this species will not be lost to landscaping or infrastructure.
A Legacy Fulfilled: The Work of Sandy Steers
The successful acquisition of Moon Camp is being hailed as the final victory for Sandy Steers, the former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, who passed away on February 11, 2026, following a battle with cancer. Steers was a lifelong wildlife advocate and a central figure in the Big Bear community. She was instrumental in launching the bald eagle live cams in 2015, which eventually turned Jackie and Shadow into international celebrities.
Steers spent years lobbying for the protection of the north shore, viewing Moon Camp as the "missing piece" of the local conservation puzzle. Earlier in 2026, she worked alongside the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) to negotiate a limited purchase agreement with the land’s owner, RCK Properties. The agreement set a high financial bar but provided a clear path to permanent protection.
Following her death, the fundraising effort took on a renewed sense of urgency and emotional weight. Supporters viewed the $10 million goal not just as a land deal, but as a tribute to Steers’ dedication. Jenny Voisard, the media manager for FOBBV, noted that Steers had carried the weight of the negotiation on her shoulders until her final days, driven by a desire to "save everything" for the wildlife she loved.
The Brockman Contribution and Official Reactions
The donation from the Brockmans underscores the growing intersection between the technology sector and environmental philanthropy. In a public statement, Anna Brockman expressed a deep personal connection to the eagles, noting that she and Greg had been regular viewers of the nest.
"Greg and I are grateful to all those who championed saving the home of these majestic eagles, Jackie and Shadow," Anna Brockman said. "Like many people around the world, we love watching them be amazing partners to one another and raise their young. They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature."
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust, which will play a key role in managing the land alongside FOBBV, also expressed relief at the outcome. The trust highlighted that the $10 million will cover the purchase price and associated costs of maintaining the land as a wildlife sanctuary, ensuring that no further development will occur on the site.
A Chronology of the 2026 Nesting Season
The timing of the fundraising success comes during one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the Big Bear nest. The 2026 season began with great anticipation as Jackie and Shadow successfully hatched two eaglets, later named Luna and Sandy by a community vote. However, the season took a dramatic turn in early summer.
- Late Winter 2026: Jackie and Shadow begin the nesting cycle, attracting record viewership as they weather heavy snowstorms in the San Bernardino Mountains.
- Spring 2026: Two healthy chicks, Luna and Sandy, hatch. The parents are observed providing a steady supply of fish from the nearby Moon Camp shoreline.
- July 2026: An altercation occurs between Jackie and two sub-adult bald eagles intruding on the territory. Jackie sustains injuries during the confrontation and is grounded.
- Mid-July 2026: Wildlife officials rescue Jackie and transport her to a specialized rehabilitation center in Ojai, California. Veterinarians report she is in stable condition but requires time to recover from her wounds.
- Present Day: Shadow has taken on the role of a single parent, successfully hunting and feeding both Luna and Sandy. The chicks are currently in the "branching" stage and are expected to fully fledge (take their first flights) within the coming weeks.
The news that their hunting grounds are now safe provides a silver lining to a season marked by Jackie’s absence and the uncertainty of Shadow’s solo efforts.
Broader Implications for Conservation and Community Action
The success of the Moon Camp fundraiser offers a case study in how social media and live-streaming technology can revolutionize conservation funding. By providing the public with a direct, intimate window into the lives of a single pair of animals, FOBBV created a global community of stakeholders. This "emotional investment" proved more powerful than traditional development capital.
From a regional perspective, the protection of Moon Camp prevents the further "urbanization" of Big Bear Lake’s north shore. Conservationists argue that maintaining large, contiguous blocks of habitat is essential for the long-term health of bald eagle populations in Southern California, which have made a slow but steady recovery since the banning of DDT in the 1970s.
The acquisition also sets a precedent for land trusts in the region. By successfully raising $10 million in such a short timeframe, the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust and FOBBV have demonstrated that there is significant public will to preserve "micro-habitats"—small but ecologically critical parcels of land that might otherwise be overlooked by larger national conservation groups.
Looking Forward
As Jackie continues her recovery in Ojai and Shadow prepares Luna and Sandy for independence, the future of the Big Bear bald eagle lineage looks more secure than it has in decades. The transition of Moon Camp from private development land to a protected sanctuary ensures that when Luna and Sandy—or future generations of Jackie and Shadow’s offspring—return to the area, the forest and the fish-rich waters will still be there to support them.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley intend to continue their educational mission, using the live cams not just for entertainment, but as a tool to advocate for the broader ecosystem. While the $10 million goal has been met, the organization remains focused on the ongoing costs of monitoring the eagles and maintaining the newly acquired land, ensuring that Sandy Steers’ vision of a protected mountain wilderness remains a reality for generations to come.
