Open AI co-founder drops $5.5M to buy land near Big Bear eagle nest

Key Points:

• OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna donated $5.5 million to a fundraiser, helping Friends of Big Bear Valley reach their $10 million goal to purchase land near eagle nestmates Jackie and Shadow's home, preventing its development.
• The land, the last undeveloped shoreline of Big Bear Lake, is critical foraging habitat for the eagles and was previously approved for a housing and marina project despite concerns from conservationists.
• Jackie, the Internet-famous Big Bear eagle, has been in intensive care for nearly a week with severe anemia from an unexplained condition after being rescued following a confrontation with younger eagles.
• The donation allows the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust to buy the parcel outright and manage it independently, opting not to transfer ownership to the U.S. Forest Service due to trust concerns.
• Friends of Big Bear Valley, which popularized Jackie and Shadow through livestreams, expressed hope and gratitude for the donation amid Jackie’s health crisis, with supporters eagerly awaiting updates on her recovery.