Harbor seal pup (2026) and Western gull nesting (2025) © Wildlife Jewels (Azi Sharif)
International Day of the Seal
🦭 Join Wildlife Jewels for a special EYES Field Day in La Jolla in honor of International Day of the Seal, in collaboration with San Diego State University’s Marine Ecology & Biology Student Association (SDSU MEBSA), whose students will help document structured field observations.
Community participants are also invited to learn about seal and seabird behavior, wildlife protection, responsible viewing, and how community observations can help support coastal wildlife conservation.
✨ Open to the public. Space is limited — pre-registration required.
When: Sunday, March 22 • 4:30–6:00 PM
Where: La Jolla — Children’s Pool Overlook
EYES™ (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life) is Wildlife Jewels’ sea life monitoring and education program—mobilizing trained observers, students, and community members to detect wildlife distress and threats, report urgent concerns through established pathways, and contribute data that support adaptive coastal management and stewardship.
San Diego State University’s Marine Ecology & Biology Student AssociationMEBSA’s mission is “to encourage and guide SDSU students and the public toward stewardship and protection of marine wildlife.”
EYES Field Day: Seals & Seabirds — La Jolla
Reserve your spot now by registering below!
EYES Field Day: Seals & Seabirds — La Jolla
Who It’s For
Open to the public. This is an introductory EYES Field Day with light monitoring led by SDSU students. No experience needed.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip (rocks can be slippery)
Water + sun protection (hat/sunscreen)
Layers (it can be cool/windy)Optional: binoculars, phone/camera for observation notes
Wildlife-Safe Etiquette
Observe seals and seabirds from a respectful distance
Stay on designated paths where possible and watch your footing
Follow leader guidance at all times
Wildlife Jewels EYES Program Updates
Field Observations & Education Blog
⭐ Our Story — The Origin of EYES™
Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life™
A Wildlife Jewels® Initiative Founded January 2025
Since 2021, Wildlife Jewels® Founder and Executive Director Azi Sharif, PhD, has been actively monitoring and observing coastal wildlife along the California coast — with a special focus on La Jolla, Solana Beach, Crystal Cove, and Corona del Mar. Through thousands of hours in the field, she documented wildlife behavior, injuries, entanglements, fishing gear hazards, toxin events, and other threats facing sea lions, seabirds, and tidepool life.
In August 2024, then June 2025, during the devastating domoic acid crisis that swept across Southern California, Azi was on the frontlines documenting distressed sea lions and seabirds suffering from toxin exposure. Her work was featured on Spectrum News on June 17, where she explained the urgent need for a coordinated, community-powered wildlife monitoring system.
“The purpose of the EYES™ program is to actively search for wildlife along the coast that need help and also gather data on the threats they’re facing — including fishing gear entanglements. Even for animals in areas where rescue isn’t possible, their story needs to be known and shared.”
— Azi Sharif, Spectrum News Interview
Moved by the severity of the crisis, and recognizing gaps in public awareness and early reporting, Azi created EYES™ — Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life™ in January 2025.
EYES™ empowers community members, trained volunteers, and Wildlife Jewels® staff to:
Observe coastal wildlife safely and respectfully
Identify distressed animals and hazards early
Document threats such as fishing gear, toxins, charcoal, and harmful human interactions
Report emergencies to authorized rescue organizations
Share the stories of wildlife needing protection
Promote stewardship through education and community walks
The program plays a vital role in areas like La Jolla, where Wildlife Jewels® actively monitors sensitive species such as Western Gulls, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. When their nests became vulnerable after beach access reopened, EYES™ volunteers helped watch over them from a distance, educating the public on safe and respectful viewing.
Today, EYES™ operates across San Diego, Orange County, and expanding to Los Angeles, helping communities “see” wildlife with greater awareness, compassion, and responsibility.
Through observation, reporting, data collection, and stewardship, EYES™ strengthens the connection between people and the wildlife who share our coastline.
Discover “Jewels of La Jolla” Blog
Wildlife Jewels “Wildlife Days“ Updates
Our Vision
“We dream of a world where wildlife thrives untouched by human activities, roaming freely in their natural habitats. In this world, every person recognizes the magnificent beauty and value of living wildlife, and takes significant action to ensure safety and protection of wildlife.”
— Azi Sharif, Founder & Executive Director Wildlife Jewels®
Would you like to make a donation?
We offer this event free of charge. Wildlife Jewels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and operates on donations. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Would you be interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to express your support for our mission to protect wildlife from human-caused threats?
