Plastic Pollution Threatens Western Gull Fledglings in La Jolla
Opal the Gull pecking at discarded plastic left near her nesting area © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif | August 2, 2026
Our wildlife deserves better.
This is Opal, one of the precious Western Gull fledglings we have had the privilege of observing and documenting since she was still an egg. Seeing her now ingesting discarded plastic is heartbreaking—and completely preventable.
During a recent Wildlife Jewels EYES Search Scout survey along the La Jolla shoreline, we documented an alarming amount of trash throughout an active Western Gull nesting area.
Over the past month, our team has seen a steady increase in litter, especially during evening surveys after busy visitor periods. We regularly remove trash when it is accessible, but last Sunday was among the worst conditions we have documented.
Young fledglings—barely two months old—were pecking at plastic food packaging, bread bags, plastic forks, and other discarded waste. Our team collected the accessible trash that day, but wildlife should never be exposed to this level of danger.
Littering is illegal, and leaving waste in an active nesting area puts wildlife at serious risk.
Clear, highly visible signage placed on the beach along with consistent enforcement are urgently needed to remind visitors to properly dispose of all waste and help protect the birds that depend on this habitat.
Meet Opal the Western Gull
Meet Opal, the Western Gull chick, when she was just about a week old. 🤍
We’ve spent countless hours in the field observing and helping protect Opal and her family since she was still an egg. This photograph was taken in June 2026. 💜
Watching Opal grow from a tiny chick into the beautiful fledgling she is today has been incredibly special—and a reminder of why every effort to protect vulnerable wildlife matters.
Opal is now one of the precious wild lives featured in our Jewels of La Jolla educational art collection, celebrating the remarkable wildlife that makes this coastline so magical. ✨
Image: Opal, Western Gull chick, June 2026, La Jolla, CA. © Wildlife Jewels® | Photo by Azi Sharif
Learn about Wildlife Jewels EYES and ways you can get involved!
Learn about Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew and ways you can help!
Opal the Gull pecking at discarded plastic left near her nesting area © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif | August 2, 2026
Wildlife Jewels’ World Ocean Day Wildlife Walk, La Jolla
Observed during our EYES™ Field Day with SDSU MEBSA students: a Western Gull with a concerning beak injury—highlighting the importance of careful observation and reporting.
👀 Join EYES™ (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life)
Become part of our coastal wildlife monitoring community—learn what to look for, how to observe responsibly, and how to report concerns to help keep birds and other coastal wildlife safe.
Learn more at about ways you can protect coastal wildlife at the Wildlife Jewels Resources Page
🛟 Join the Wildlife Jewel Rescue Crew (observation & reporting only)
Help support local wildlife rescue response by assisting with reporting, coordination, and (for trained, permitted volunteers only, transport support when a bird needs help.)
✨ Together, we can turn wildlife observation into action and help protect the magical Jewels that make our coastline so special.
EYES Community BIRD WALK, National Bird Day JANUARY 2026
Some of the magical Bird Jewels we had the delight of observing included Brandt’s cormorants with their striking turquoise eyes, the adult California brown pelican with sky-blue eyes and a vibrant red throat pouch, and the majestic Black Oystercatcher with its bold orange bill and eye-ring. We also enjoyed the intelligent, charismatic Western gull, the precious Heermann’s gulls, and the elegance of Royal and Elegant terns, crowned with their distinctive head crests.
Photo credit: © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif
We identified an injured Heermann’s gull, documented what we observed, and reported—reminding us that careful monitoring and timely reporting can help save lives. Every wildlife life is precious. 💙 We will share more about her and the other injured wildlife including 2 entangled sea lions that we spotted during our walk through the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Blog soon.
A Second Chance for an Entangled Brown Pelican. One moment of awareness helped change the course of his life. On July 22, 2026, a Wildlife Jewels® Search Scout survey at Crystal Cove State Park became an unexpected rescue mission.