Wildlife Jewels Featured in San Diego Bird Alliance’s Sketches: Seabirds Face Dire Conditions Along California Coast
📖 Sketches, Summer/Fall 2026 | San Diego Bird Alliance
Article by LaTresa Pearson
Wildlife Jewels Executive Director Dr. Azi Sharif was interviewed for the Summer/Fall 2026 issue of San Diego Bird Alliance’s Sketches for the story, “Seabirds Face Dire Conditions Along California Coast.”
The feature examines the severe conditions seabirds have faced along the California coast and the extraordinary challenges witnessed by those monitoring and responding to distressed wildlife.
Sketches Editor LaTresa Pearson interviewed Dr. Sharif at La Jolla Cove about what Wildlife Jewels has been documenting through coastal field surveys, wildlife monitoring, and rescue response in La Jolla and throughout Southern California. The article describes critically distressed cormorants and Brown Pelicans encountered during the spring seabird crisis and Wildlife Jewels’ efforts to monitor and help coordinate rescue for affected birds.
The article also explores the broader environmental conditions affecting seabirds. Researchers discuss unusually warm ocean waters and changes in prey availability, including sardines and anchovies moving into deeper, cooler waters where they may become less accessible to seabirds.
The issue’s “What You Can Do” section provides guidance for recognizing and reporting distressed wildlife and includes Wildlife Jewels’ Rescue Crew and EYES Program among the ways community members can become involved in monitoring local seabirds and marine mammals and supporting rescue efforts.
Thank you to LaTresa Pearson and San Diego Bird Alliance for bringing attention to the serious challenges facing our coastal seabirds and to the importance of monitoring, reporting, rescue response, and community involvement.
Wildlife Jewels will continue documenting conditions along our coastline and working to protect the extraordinary wildlife that depends on these habitats.
Read the full story in the Summer/Fall 2026 issue of Sketches.
Read “Seabirds Face Dire Conditions Along California Coast” and explore the Summer/Fall 2026 issue of Sketches through San Diego Bird Alliance. Read HERE.
Brandt’s Cormorant, La Jolla © Wildlife Jewels/ Azi Sharif
Interested in getting involved?
Become a Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew volunteer. Apply Here.
Report injured or distressed wildlife through our Wildlife Emergency Report.
Make a monetary contribution to help provide rescue equipment, transport supplies, volunteer training, and other essential resources for the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew. Donate Here.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue: The Local Publication Feature
Watch the ABC 10News Feature
View Megan Parry’s original ABC 10News feature HERE.
About Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew is a trained volunteer program that supports wildlife search and rescue through observation, field monitoring, reporting, containment support, and transport support. By working alongside wildlife rehabilitation organizations and agency partners, Rescue Crew helps expand response capacity while connecting more wildlife with the care they need.
About EYES
The Wildlife Jewels EYES program is dedicated to observing, documenting, and monitoring wildlife and the threats they face. Through long-term field monitoring and data collection, EYES helps support rescue efforts, conservation, education, and public awareness while inspiring people to value and protect wildlife and their habitats.
Wildlife Jewels was honored to be presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition during the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew ribbon-cutting ceremony.