Brown Booby in distress at La Jolla Cove, October 2026. © Wildlife Jewels/ Azi Sharif
Juvenile Brown Booby Rescued from La Jolla Cove Cliffs After Two-Day Search
La Jolla, California | October 2026
From Observation to Rescue: A Life-Saving Search
A beautiful juvenile Brown Booby was rescued from the cliffs of La Jolla Cove following two days of searching, monitoring, and coordinated wildlife rescue efforts by Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew and City of San Diego Park Rangers.
The young seabird was first spotted during a Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew Search Scout survey on October 9, 2026. She appeared distressed and severely underweight, raising serious concerns about her health and ability to survive.
The bird was resting on rocks near California sea lions, below a closed coastal stairway. The steep cliffs and restricted access made reaching her particularly challenging.
For Wildlife Jewels, this discovery underscored why regular wildlife monitoring and Search Scout surveys are so important: a single observation can become the first step toward saving a life.
Two Days of Searching and a Challenging Cliffside Rescue
Our Rescue Crew continued searching for the juvenile booby, determined to locate her and coordinate a safe response.
On October 10, the bird was located again along the La Jolla cliffs. With the assistance of City of San Diego Park Rangers, a coordinated rescue effort was organized to reach her safely.
Park Ranger Alex assisted with the rescue using the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew net, helping bring the bird to safety and place her into a secure wildlife transport box.
The rescue demonstrated the importance of persistence, preparation, specialized equipment, and collaboration when responding to wildlife in difficult coastal environments.
Two days. One precious life. A rescue made possible through persistence and teamwork.
A Second Chance for a Young Seabird
Following her rescue, the juvenile booby was transported to SeaWorld Rescue for professional wildlife care and evaluation.
The bird's condition was concerning, and her medical prognosis remains unknown as we await further information from the rehabilitation team.
While being safely rescued is an important first step, recovery can be particularly challenging for seabirds suffering from emaciation and weakness.
We remain hopeful for this young booby and grateful that she now has an opportunity to receive the specialized care she needs.
Why Search Scout Surveys Matter
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew Search Scouts help identify wildlife in distress through regular field observations along Southern California's coastline.
These surveys are an important part of our early detection and rescue response efforts, allowing us to:
Identify injured, sick, entangled, or distressed wildlife.
Document observations and monitor animals requiring follow-up.
Coordinate appropriate rescue responses with authorized personnel and wildlife rehabilitation partners.
Help wildlife in need reach professional care when rescue is possible.
Through our EYES® wildlife observation program and Rescue Crew, Wildlife Jewels connects field monitoring with coordinated action to protect wildlife from threats along our coast.
Report Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels monitors reports of injured, distressed, entangled, and deceased wildlife along the Orange County and San Diego County coastlines and coordinates response within the scope of our wildlife rescue programs.
Report Wildlife to Wildlife Jewels
Wildlife Jewels® EYES® + Rescue Crew
Monitoring wildlife. Identifying threats. Responding when wildlife needs help.
Learn about Wildlife Jewels EYES and ways you can get involved!
Learn about Wildlife Jewels Rescue and ways you can help!
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
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.
Wildlife Jewels continues to document seabird entanglements in La Jolla, particularly at Point La Jolla, as birds face fishing gear and other pressures.