Join the Wildlife Jewels® EYES™ Collective

EYES Wildlife Monitor Volunteer (18+)

Become a trained EYES Wildlife Monitor and help protect coastal and marine wildlife.

Wildlife Monitors play a vital role in observing local beaches, documenting hazards, and reporting distressed wildlife—turning local observations into meaningful conservation action.

A Wildlife Jewels program

About the EYES Collective

The Wildlife Jewels EYES Collective is a volunteer-powered education and community-science network that protects coastal and marine wildlife through observation, data collection, and reporting.

Participants learn how to safely spot and document wildlife and environmental hazards, helping improve outcomes for seabirds, shorebirds, and other coastal species during everyday conditions and events such as fishing-line entanglements, toxin outbreaks, or oil spills.

EYES™ stands for Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life™ — a movement to help communities see, report, and protect.

Important Note

EYES™ does not provide wildlife rehabilitation or marine-mammal handling. We refer distressed animals to authorized responders. When appropriate, permitted bird/small-mammal transport is supported by our Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew — currently in pilot.

About the EYES Wildlife Monitor Volunteer Role

EYES Wildlife Monitors are trained volunteers who actively monitor coastal areas and record data that supports wildlife rescue, education, and protection efforts.

You’ll learn to identify and safely observe seabirds, marine mammals, and environmental hazards such as fishing line, charcoal, plastic debris, or tar. Your findings help responders and agencies act faster to protect wildlife and improve coastal conditions.

Commitment & Training

  • Time: ~1–2 hrs/week (flexible schedule)

  • Duration: 3-month minimum (6 months preferred)

  • Required:

    • 60-min virtual EYES Orientation & Training

    • 60-min on-site EYES Training Walk

  • Provided: Observation toolkit, reporting guide, and volunteer support

Important Note

EYES does not provide wildlife rehabilitation or marine-mammal handling.
Distressed animals are referred to authorized responders.
Permitted bird/small-mammal transport is supported by the Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew, currently in pilot phase.

Focus Areas

La Jolla • Solana Beach • Newport Beach
EYES Crisis (regional rapid-response observations)

Every Report Matters

By joining the EYES Collective, you become part of a growing network of volunteers and community members working to make our coasts safer for wildlife — one observation at a time.

📩 Questions: eyes@wildlifejewels.org

Applications are reviewed; limited slots available. Orientation includes signing a volunteer agreement and liability waiver.

Apply to join our next training and start protecting our precious local coastal and marine wildlife!

Discover Wildlife Jewels’ EYES Program

Wildlife Jewels EYES

Our Vision

Wildlife Jewels™ | 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®