Rescued: Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant Gets a Second Chance in La Jolla
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant, rescued through a Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew response. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, August 30, 2026.
RESCUED 💙 Meet Azurite.
RESCUED 💙 Meet Azurite.
One of the entangled seabirds Wildlife Jewels has been documenting at Point La Jolla was finally able to receive help.
Azurite, a Brandt’s Cormorant, was struggling with fishing line and a sharp hook affecting her beak. She appears to be one of the entangled cormorants first documented by Wildlife Jewels® at Point La Jolla on July 20 and later featured by the San Diego Union-Tribune and La Jolla Light.
For weeks, she was observed in areas where reaching entangled birds can be extremely difficult.
Then, an opportunity for rescue finally came.
The night before her rescue, a compassionate community reporter photographed Azurite over the wall at Point La Jolla, still entangled and out of reach. The following day, Azurite moved into an accessible area near Point La Jolla, where she was safely contained and transported for rehabilitation. The fishing hook and line were later removed during her care.
The final image shows the actual hook and line removed from Azurite.
Seeing that sharp gear finally off her is a moment of hope — but it also reflects the devastating reality these precious seabirds are facing.
Several more entangled birds, including cormorants, pelicans, and gulls, remain at Point La Jolla, many in areas where rescue access is extremely limited or nearly impossible. We also continue to identify newly entangled birds through ongoing monitoring and community reports.
Azurite was fortunate to move somewhere she could be rescued. Others have not.
Her story is a reminder of why reporting, monitoring, and rapid response matter. When an injured animal can be reached and rescued, that opportunity can mean the difference between continued suffering and a second chance. 💙
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant, rescued through a Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew response. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, August 30, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
After weeks of documenting entangled seabirds at Point La Jolla, a precious Brandt’s Cormorant finally became reachable. Meet Azurite and follow her journey from fishing gear entanglement to rescue and a second chance.